(SALEM) – On Wednesday, at approximately 2 p.m., Indiana State Police in Sellersburg were called to the area of the Washington County Fairgrounds in Salem after a report of an officer-involved shooting involving Salem city police officers.
At the request for the Salem Police Department, ISP detectives assumed the investigation upon arriving on-scene and were assisted by officers from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
The initial evidence and investigation reveal that shortly before 2 p.m., two Salem City Police officers arrived on fairgrounds property to investigate a suspicious person call involving a male subject.
Officers eventually located 53-year-old Mark A, Naugle, of Scottsburg, standing in the creek which borders the fairground property. During the encounter, Naugle approached the officers brandishing a hammer and refused repeated commands to drop the hammer and stop approaching. This prompted at least one Salem police officer to fire their weapon, striking and killing Naugle.
Both police officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in police-involved shootings.
This investigation is ongoing, including an autopsy, and more information will be released as it becomes available. Â
Once the preliminary investigation has been completed, all information will be turned over to the Washington County Prosecutor for review. Â
Indiana State Police units were assisted by the Salem City Police Department, The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County EMS, and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.
