ANDERSON, Ind. — The man accused of shooting a Pendleton police officer last week during a traffic stop at an Anderson gas station also reportedly shot himself during the altercation.
The Madison County Prosecutor's Office announced Monday that officials have determined that the May 7 officer-involved shooting was legally justified. While no bodycam footage was provided, officials gave more details on the incident and photos from the scene.
According to MCPO, Pendleton Police Officer Jerry Branson was driving around 2:30 p.m. last Tuesday on the north side of Anderson while investigating a recent car crash on Interstate 69.
"Police officers employed by a municipality have law enforcement authority anywhere in the State of Indiana," the prosecutor's office said, referencing Manley v. State to justify Officer Branson being out of his jurisdiction.
Eventually, police said Branson found a vehicle of interest from a separate Pendleton crash and pulled the black Mercedes sedan over at the GetGo station near the intersection of Broadway and W. School streets.
The Prosecutor's Office said that the traffic stop was recorded on three separate sources: Officer Branson's body-worn camera, a dash-mounted camera on his PPD squad car and the GetGo gas station's security camera.
According to these videos, prosecutors said that Branson got out of his squad car and approached the Mercedes which was occupied by driver Amelia Peters, 23, and passenger Ross Morelock, 39. Both occupants were from Anderson, police said.
Police said that Morelock, who was a person of interest in the recent Pendleton crash, refused to give over his ID and gave Branson a fake name and birthdate. At the time, Morelock had three active warrants in several counties for nonsupport of a child and dealing in meth.
Officer Branson reportedly identified Peters as a suspect in the crash he was investigating and asked her to get out of the car before handcuffing her. Police said Branson then radioed dispatch and asked for backup units.
"During the course of the traffic stop, Officer Branson gave three separate loud, verbal commands to Morelock to keep his hands where he could see them," MCPO said. "When Morelock continued to make furtive movement with his hands, Officer Branson gave two additional loud, verbal commands for Morelock to put his hands on the dashboard."
Police said that, despite the commands, Morelock kept moving his hands which caused Officer Branson to draw his department-issued handgun and point it at Morelock. This, MCPO said, happened "just before" Morelock also pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer.
MCPO said that video shows Officer Branson pushing Peters to the ground to protect her before attempting to shoot Morelock. However, his gun initially malfunctioned and the officer was unable to shoot.
After clearing the handgun, police said Branson exchanged gunfire with Morelock for around 10 seconds - with the officer firing four rounds and Morelock firing six. Then, Morelock reportedly shot five more rounds, one of which struck Officer Branson in the shoulder.
Police said footage shows that Morelock then got out of the car on the passenger's side, got on his knees, put his handgun under his chin and then shot himself in the head.
Radio records reportedly show that Officer Branson was in contact with police dispatch throughout the shooting, advising that shots had been fired and that both he and the suspect had been shot.
"Less than a minute later, additional officers and medical personnel arrived on scene and provided treatment to both Officer Branson and Morelock," MCPO said.
Officer Branson reportedly suffered a graze wound to his shoulder that left an approximately 1-inch-long surface wound and punctured a hole through his uniform shirt. He was treated at Community Hospital in Anderson and released the same day.
Morelock was taken by ambulance to an Indianapolis hospital where he remains in critical condition, police said. According to MCPO, the only injury Morelock suffered was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
If Morelock recovers and survives his injuries, Prosecutors said he will be formally charged with multiple felonies including attempted murder, possession of a gun by a serious violent felon, battery with a deadly weapon, false informing and more.
Per policy, Pendleton Police have placed Officer Branson on administrative leave pending a review of the use of force.
As for the Prosecutor's Office investigation, Branson's actions have been determined to be legally justified. In its legal determination, MCPO cited Morelock's lying about his identity, pointing a firearm and refusing to follow commands as justification for the shooting.
Finally, MCPO said that Peters may also be charged in the incident. The investigation into both her involvement in the shooting and the previous crash is ongoing, MCPO said, and charges may be filed against her in both cases.