BLOOMINGTON – On April 10th at 6 p.m. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department deputy Tent Walls responded to a “mental health in progress call”.
The caller reported that a friend, David Howard, was using his partner’s phone and texting saying, “People are going to find him a the bottom of Cedar Bluff”.
The caller said Howard was suffering from “mental health issues”. The caller was unsure where Howard was when she made the call to the police. She was also scared that contacting the police would “escalate the situation”. She then decided she didn’t want a deputy to check on Howard at this time, but she would contact Howard’s partner. She then stated she would call back if assistance was needed.
At 7:06 p.m., Deputy Trent Walls and Deputy Shawn Sullivan were dispatched to 8484 South Ketcham Road to a call stating there was a body at the bottom of the cliffs. It was later determined this call was placed by Howard. When the deputies arrived on the scene they searched the area, along with Monroe Fire personnel, but were unable to locate a body.
While searching the area, they eventually located two subjects atop the cliff, near the cliff edge, involved in a physical altercation. It appeared to the deputies the male, later identified as Howard, was attempting to throw a female off the cliff. Police later learned the woman was trying to keep Howard from jumping off the cliff.
Deputies and fire personnel rushed over and grabbed Howard, wrestled him to the ground, and handcuffed him for the safety of those on the scene. After being restrained, Howard was placed in a seated position and deputies were able to de-escalate the situation.
Howard remained cooperative and quiet from that time forward. During approximately 13 minutes of interaction with Howard and the involved female, Howard remained unengaged and quiet but made a statement “You were supposed to carry me out of here.”
It was determined by the deputies that Howard needed to be taken to IU Health Hospital for a mental health evaluation due to his mental status.
As deputies were preparing to escort Howard to their patrol vehicle for transport, they communicated with Howard they were going to walk him from the area. At that time Howard demonstrated no signs of resistance, standing as directed, and was fully cooperating with the officers.
Howard cooperatively took two steps when he suddenly rotated to the right and forcefully pulled away from Deputy Sullivan who was holding him to escort him to the patrol car.
As Howard rotated to a position behind Deputy Sullivan, he began to run toward the edge of the cliff. Deputy Sullivan grabbed Howard’s arm a second time in an attempt to control him, which pulled Deputy Sullivan closer to the edge of the cliff. Howard forcefully pulled away again and jumped off the cliff.
The elapsed time from when Howard rotated from Deputy Sullivan’s control to when he leaped from the cliff’s edge was approximately two seconds.
Ambulance and fire personnel were on the scene during the incident and provided lifesaving care to Howard; however, it was unsuccessful. Howard passed from his injuries.
The Monroe County Coroner was contacted along with Monroe County Sheriff Department Detectives who arrived on the scene and assumed the investigation.
The initial investigation was completed on April 14th. Toxicology results are pending. An autopsy was scheduled by the coroner and completed Wednesday, April 13th. The preliminary cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries with the manner of death listed as suicide by the forensic pathologist.
A preliminary administrative review of the incident was conducted. The review determined the deputy’s actions during this incident were within departmental policies and procedures.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Howard for their tremendous loss.
