Police, Governor React To Boone Co. Sheriff Deputy's Death

LEBANON, IN -- The Boone County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police officials and local law enforcement are mourning the death of Boone County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Pickett who died Friday after being shot during a police pursuit. ISP says Deputy Pickett died after being shot around 9:30 a.m. Friday morning while running after a suspect. Deputy Jacob Pickett was flown to St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis where he remained in critical condition until he passed, ISP officials say. According to ISP, Deputy Pickett and his family are continuing to selflessly serve the community by donating his organs.

According to AP News, Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen said Deputy Jacob Pickett, a 30-year-old father of two young boys, was on life support at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis and his “life is being sustained so that he can continue to serve and help others." AP News adds Neilsen said, “We have lost a canine officer, a deputy, a friend, a warrior and a brother,” Nielsen said during an emotional news conference at the hospital. “We are family. We are grieving.”

ISP says Deputy Pickett, a Brownsburg Indiana native and 2002 graduate of Brownsburg High School, has been employed by the Boone County Sheriff's Office since July of 2015. ISP adds that prior to his work with BCSO, Deputy Pickett served as a deputy for the Tipton County Sheriff's Department from November of 2013 until July of 2015, and as a jailer at the Marion County Jail from 2010 until 2013.

ISP adds that Deputy Pickett was the lead K9 handler for the Boone County Sheriff's Office and patrolled with his partner Brick for more than 2 years.

AP News reports that police said Pickett, who is married and joined the department about three years ago, was shot in the head as he rounded a corner with his police dog during the chase.

According to ISP, the Friday morning incident happened when Lebanon Police Department officers were trying to serve an outstanding warrant on a female suspect on Yates Street, in Lebanon. Just around 9:30 a.m., ISP says the officers noticed a man in the area who they knew also had an outstanding warrant, 28-year-old John. D. Baldwin Jr. (pictured).

Police say Baldwin Jr. and two other people drove away in a silver Ford Focus when asked to stop, which led the officers to chase the car. That's when ISP says BCSO Deputy Pickett joined the pursuit to help the other officers, before the car stopped on Indian Springs Road, and the occupants got out and ran.

ISP says the Deputy Pickett was shot while running after one of the suspects.

Lebanon Community School Corporation buildings were on lock down during the incident, but have since been opened.

One suspect, 21-year-old Anthony Bumgarht of Lebanon was wounded by officers, ISP reports, as another car occupant, 55-year-old John Baldwin Sr. (pictured) ran. The driver, Baldwin Jr., drove away in the car, but ISP says he was later arrested by officers on I-65 after another pursuit.

According to AP News, Nielsen said Pickett is the first officer with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office killed in the line of duty since 1935, when Sheriff John Pepper was killed while on duty.

Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement that he and his wife, Janet, “are stunned and heartbroken” by Pickett’s shooting and feel sorrow for the deputy’s wife and children.

Heart broken for @boonecosheriff Sheriff's Department and the family of Deputy Jacob Pickett. God Speed Brother. RIP — Sgt. Tony Slocum (@ISPPeru) March 2, 2018

Patch will continue updating this breaking news story.

Photo credit: Indiana State Police