INDIANAPOLIS – Monday, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Indiana State Police was asked to assist the Morristown Police Department with a welfare check of an armed and delusional subject.
The subject was reported to be driving a green and white garbage truck and had recently made delusional statements to family members causing them to be concerned for his safety and the safety of the public.
At 4:57 p.m. Indiana State Police Sergeant Jonathan Haugh, a nine-year state police veteran told dispatch via police radio that he had located the truck behind 7805 Brookville Road in Indianapolis, which is a gas station.
Sergeant Haugh then reported shots fired shortly after, again via police radio. Within minutes, other troopers were on the scene and assisting Sergeant Haugh who was providing emergency life-saving medical aid to the suspect.
One of the arriving troopers applied a tourniquet to the suspect and the three troopers continued medical aid until paramedics arrived to take over care.
Preliminary investigation has determined, 30-year-old Zachary Scifres of Indianapolis had made delusional statements earlier in the day and family members had requested the Morristown Police Department check on his welfare.
The Morristown Police Department was actively looking for Scifres when they asked the state police for assistance.
Sergeant Haugh located Scifres on the southwest side of the business inside the truck that he was reportedly driving. Scifres got out of the truck and began walking away from Sergeant Haugh. As Sergeant Haugh attempted to detain Scifres, he physically resisted the detention and ran to the north side of the gas station.
While running north toward the gas pumps Scifres pulled out a handgun and fired shots toward Sergeant Haugh. Sergeant Haugh returned fire, striking Scifres.
As Sergeant Haugh approached Scifres, who was on the ground, a second physical altercation ensued at which time Sgt. Haugh fired shots again.
Scifres was handcuffed, then Sergeant Haugh immediately began emergency life-saving medical aid. Scifres was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Sergeant Haugh was not injured.
Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators and Detectives remained on the scene reviewing and recovering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and processing the scene.
Sergeant Haugh, who is assigned to the Indianapolis Post and serves as a supervisor, was on duty and in uniform at the time of the incident. He is equipped with a body-worn camera as well as a dash camera and both were activated upon his initial arrival at the gas station.
Per Indiana State Police protocol, Sergeant Haugh will be placed on administrative leave.
This information is preliminary, detectives are in the very early stages of this investigation/
The Indiana State Police is being assisted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Morristown Police Department, the ATF, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Indianapolis Fire Department.
