Video shows Pendleton police shoot, kill man holding knife on I-69

MADISON COUNTY, Ind. — Newly released bodycam footage shows a Pendleton police officer shoot and kill a man who was holding a knife while walking along the interstate.

The shooting occurred in late January after Madison County law enforcement were called to a portion of Interstate 69 for a man walking on the side of the road. The man – armed with a knife – lunged at officers who subsequently shot and tased him. The man later died from his injuries.

The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office determined Friday that the shooting was justified.

Pendleton Police and Madison County Sheriff’s crews were called around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 to I-69 between State Road 9 in Anderson and State Road 38 in Pendleton for a person walking on the interstate. Officers responded and encountered a man – later identified as 33-year-old Blake L. Brown of Anderson.

One bodycam that captured the incident shows a Pendleton police officer park on the side of I-69 and get out of his car to speak with Brown. The video shows that a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy was already on scene speaking with Brown when Pendleton police arrived.

The Pendleton officer approaches Brown and tells him that, because it is illegal to walk on the interstate, he is being detained. Brown tells officers he is just trying to walk to the nearby exit that is visible down the road. He then begins to walk away from the officers.

“Come here,” the Pendleton officer can be heard saying.

“Stop,” Brown is heard saying as he turns around toward the officer, still walking backward toward the exit.

Brown is then seen pulling a knife from his jacket pocket and the Pendleton officer responds by unholstering his pistol and pointing it at Brown.

“Show me your f***ing hands,” the officer says after Brown is seen pointing the knife at him. “Stop. Stop. Stop walking.”

The officer, with his gun pointed at Brown, continues walking behind Brown as he backpedals along the side of the road. Eventually, Brown stops backpedaling and begins walking back toward the officers while occasionally pointing the knife toward police.

“Drop that knife,” the Pendleton officer can be heard saying at least five times.

“Or what?” Brown then replies.

The Pendleton officer then asks the sheriff’s deputy if he has a “less lethal” weapon ready to use on Brown. The deputy did, pulling out a stun gun and having it at the ready.

Brown then gets within 10-15 feet of the Pendleton officer and lunges at least twice toward him. A police report says that, at this point, the officer had been cornered by the oncoming traffic, a steep embankment and his parked squad car behind him.

Upon realizing he has no more space to move away from Brown, the Pendleton officer is seen firing three shots at Brown toward his chest and upper torso. At the exact same time, the sheriff’s deputy fires his stun gun at strikes Brown as well.

Brown immediately hits the ground and his body is seen writhing on the concrete.

“Stop moving, where is the knife?” the deputy yells.

“Drop that f***ing knife,” the Pendleton officer says.

For the next minute, the two policemen are seen standing over Brown with their weapons drawn while yelling commands to drop the knife. Brown remains still and unresponsive on the ground.

“We can’t get through to him,” the Pendleton officer says over his radio. “He won’t drop the knife.”

“Drop the knife so we can help you,” the deputy yells.

The bodycam footage released by Pendleton police then ends around 90 seconds after the shooting as officers continue to stand over Brown while yelling commands.

Police said Brown was eventually taken to IU Health Saxony Hospital in Fishers for treatment. After approximately 40 minutes of resuscitation efforts, Brown was pronounced dead at the hospital.

An autopsy of Brown’s body was conducted on Jan. 30 and determined that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest fired by the Pendleton officer.