Noblesville police officers shot and wounded a suicidal man near Riverview Hospital, 395 Westfield Rd., after less-than-lethal munitions on the suspect which were not effective Saturday night.
Police were called on a report of a suicidal person and located the suspect in a parking lot on the east side of the hospital around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. NPD Spokesman Lt. Bruce Barnes said officers attempted to use less-than-lethal munitions on the suspect which were not effective and the suspect disobeyed the verbal commands of officers on the scene.
“During this time officers perceived a threat from the individual and he was subsequently shot twice by members of the Noblesville Police Dept.,” he said.
The subject, who was only identified by police as a 27-year-old Noblesville man, was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Barnes said no officers were injured in the shooting.
As is often the practice with police action shootings, the Noblesville Police Dept. has requested a different agency investigate the incident so the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting the investigation, according to Sheriff Deputy Bryant Orem.
Orem said the initial investigation shows the Hamilton County Communications Center received a call at 9:36 p.m. stating that Taylor Bell, 27, had called stating he had a gun and was going to set himself up to be killed by the police by pointing the gun at officers. At 9:56 p.m., officers located Bell and an NPD negotiator who was on-duty at the time started negotiations.
“During the negotiations Mr. Bell produced a pistol from his waistline and was waving it at the ground,” Orem said. “Noblesville Police Dept. officers initially deployed less than lethal bean bag rounds in an attempt to control Mr. Bell.”
At approximately 10:33 p.m., Bell attempted to flee and two officers deployed tasers which were ineffective. At that time, Bell raised his weapon and pointed it in the direction of three Noblesville officers who were on the perimeter.
“The three officers each fired one round from their patrol rifles striking Mr. Bell twice. Officers administered first aid to Mr. Bell until medics arrived on the scene,” Orem said.
Bell was then transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he remains in critical condition at this time.
Upon recovery of the weapon, it was found to be a Beretta air soft gun.
As the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into Saturday night’s police action shooting near Riverview Hospital in Noblesville, they are seeking anyone who might be a witness to the incident. According to witnesses already interviewed, a black Mitsubishi Eclipse convertible and a white 4-door, possibly Ford, sedan were seen at the location and may have witnessed the incident. The vehicles were located in the east parking lot of Riverview Hospital near the surgery center.
Sheriff’s Office investigators are requesting anyone who witnessed the shooting or actions leading up to the shooting to contact them at 776-9887.
Once the investigation is complete it will be submitted to Hamilton County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham for review.