JENNINGS CO. – Jennings County released the following findings in an officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of 23-year-old Danielle R. Blake.
More than 16 months later, Jennings County Prosecutor Brian Belding found the two North Vernon police officers were justified in using deadly force for self-defense.
The incident happened on Thursday, April 9, 2023. After the shooting, Indiana State Police submitted a 24-page report on the incident, which included evidence, witness statements, body camera videos, documents, and laboratory reports.
North Vemon Police Department Sgt. Adam Driver and Officer Allen were dispatched to 25 Thomas Drive, Apartment 3, after a report of a domestic disturbance. When the Police arrived, they spoke to a relative of Blake, who went to the apartment to get Blake to go to the hospital for a medical evaluation. There was a confrontation.
Police say Blake was acting erratically and came out of the apartment armed with a golf club and threatened the relative, who then called the police.
Officers attempted to contact Blake, who returned inside the apartment but were unsuccessful. They left to respond to another call.
Sgt. Driver and Officer Allen returned to the apartment after receiving a second call from the relative. The goal was for officers to speak to Blake and detain her on an emergency detention for a medical evaluation.
Sgt. Drive spoke to Blake through an apartment window. Blake was yelling profanities and talking nonsense.
Sgt. Driver asked Blake to exit the apartment, or they would have to enter.
She replied, “Go ahead and try, I dare you. I’ll stab you.”
Sgt. Driver said Blake was armed with a 10-12 inch serrated knife. She then retreated from the window into the apartment out of view.
At that point, Sgt. The driver was concerned for Blake’s safety and didn’t want her to hurt herself or exit from the rear door of the apartment and be a potential danger to someone else.
Jennings County Sheriff’s Department deputies Ben Seastrom and Dylan Smock arrived to assist. All four officers entered the apartment and found Blake in a bathroom with the door closed. She refused to exit the room. Officer Allen breached the door and found Blake on the floor next to the bathtub, holding the knife. She was told repeatedly to drop the weapon. She refused. Deputy Seastorm entered the bathroom and fired his taser to make Blake comply, but she still wouldn’t drop the knife. Deputy Smock then fired his taser, and the officer continued to order Blake to drop the knife.
Blake then jumped into the bathtub and closed the shower curtain. Deputy Seastrom pulled the shower curtain back and found Blake lying in the tub, facing officers and making stabbing motions at them officers. Officers ordered Blake to put down the knife, and she refused. Deputy Seastom picked up the golf club and told Blake he would hit her if she didn’t drop the knife. Deputy Seastom then attempted to knock the knife out of Blake’s hand. But she wouldn’t drop the weapon. Suddenly, she stood up, stepped out of the tub, raised the knife, and began advancing aggressively toward Deputy Seastrom, screaming, “I will kill you.”
Officers felt their lives were in danger. Sgt. Driver and Officer Allen fired their duty weapons, striking Blake. Officers then provided immediate medical attention.
Later, Blake died from her injuries.
“Therefore, considering all the evidence, Sgt. Driver and Officer Allen were justified in using deadly force in defense of themselves and Deputy Seastrom on April 9, 2024,” wrote Prosecutor Brian J. Belding. “There will be no criminal liability on the part of Sgt. Driver and Officer Allen.”
