GREENFIELD — An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer who has been charged with a felony was never arrested, and police and prosecutors are upset at the appearance of special treatment.
Derek Ethridge, 29, 1000 block of King Maple Drive, Greenfield, was officially charged on April 18 with battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14. Ethridge has been accused of spanking his young daughter too aggressively, causing bruising, according to official court documents.
However, to the dismay of local law enforcement officials, when they presented the case in Hancock Circuit Court, Judge Scott Sirk ruled probable cause did not exist to issue an arrest warrant for Ethridge.
Citing the code of judicial conduct, Sirk said Friday he could not comment on the case. Others, however, said they wish Sirk had made a different decision.
“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of,” said Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche. “We submitted the paperwork to the prosecutor, the prosecutor signs off on it and takes it to the judge, who won’t issue a warrant.”
While the judge didn’t issue an arrest warrant, the prosecutor’s office is moving forward with the case. A court date for an initial hearing has been set for Monday.
Officials from the prosecutors office said while they respect the decisions judges make on cases they bring, they said they did due diligence in bringing the charge involving a police officer to light and are looking forward to the case being resolved, like others of its kind.
“Every single time we have something, we make decisions based upon the law and facts, and in this particular case having looked at the law we felt it was appropriate to proceed,” said Prosecutor Brent Eaton.
Rasche said his department worked hard to make sure there was no special treatment given to Ethridge, who has been an IMPD officer since December of 2015. Rasche said GPD officials made sure they were transparent in sharing the facts of the case.
“I don’t think this case will be dismissed,” Rasche said. “I just don’t understand why the judge is doing it this way.”
The incident was originally reported to the Department of Child Services by an official from the Indy Counseling Professionals, local officials said.
Kasie Ethridge, the child’s mother, was then contacted by DCS and cooperated with officials. The mother told DCS she received a text message from her ex-husband April 18 saying he had spanked one of their daughters and left a small bruise. The mother then received a text message with a picture showing the bruising was much more severe than described, an affidavit said.
The mother provided Child Services the photos, prompting DCS officials to get GPD officials involved. Derek Ethridge agreed to come in and meet with law enforcement, including someone from DCS who observed the meeting.
During the interview, Derek Ethridge admitted to spanking the child three times within an hour, but he told police he did not think he had injured his daughter. He also told his wife the child needed discipline, the report shows. Police have since received additional photos of the bruising from DCS that showed it was still visible April 24.
Officials from the IMPD said Ethridge is on administrative paid leave pending the outcome of the case.
