Cedar Grove man who provoked officer-involved shooting pleads guilty to four felony charges
June 7, 2023 at 5:57 p.m.
Zachary Chetwood, 32, of Cedar Grove, was scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday, June 5, after pleading "not guilty" to five felonies, including Count 1: Attempted Aggravated Battery (L3), Count 2: Battery with Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer (L5), County 3: Intimidation (L5), Count 4: Criminal Recklessness (L5) and Count 6: Pointing a Firearm (L6). The charges stemmed from an officer-involved shooting between several Franklin County Sheriff's Department Deputies and Chetwood in Cedar Grove on May 24, 2022. However, on May 31, 2023, Chetwood changed his plea to "guilty" to four of the five felony counts. Count two was dismissed because it involved the same act as Count 1, and Chetwood cannot be sentenced to both under Indiana Law.
The guilty pleas were not made pursuant to a plea agreement with the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. The sentence will be left to the discretion of the Court. Following the Court's acceptance of Chetwood's guilty plea, Chetwood was remanded to the Franklin County Security Center. Judge Cox ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 26.
On May 24, 2022, deputies responded to a 911 call stating Chetwood was suicidal and possessed a firearm. Upon arrival, Chetwood exited his vehicle and pointed a handgun at the officers with the intent to commit suicide by cop. Chetwood was ordered to drop the weapon several times but continued to point the gun at the responding officers. After several seconds gunfire ensued. Chetwood was shot almost immediately. When gunfire ceased, deputies immediately approached Chetwood, securing his weapon, and began first aid on the suspect. No deputies were injured during the incident. Chetwood was air cared to University Hospital in Cincinnati for gun wounds to the abdomen and leg.
Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp notified Franklin County Sheriff Pete Cates on May 24 that the force used by the deputies was justified.
"The details of the investigation, as noted in the probable cause affidavit, show that the deputies were compelled to act in order to address a serious threat, and as a result of their response, the only person injured was the suspect - the source of the threat," Huerkamp stated in a press release.
"Incredibly, even after exchanging gunfire with Mr. Chetwood, the deputies wasted no time in providing medical attention to him and may have even saved his life. Their actions here speak for themselves."
The sentencing range for a Level 3 Felony is three to sixteen years. Sentencing for a Level 5 Felony ranges from one to six years, and sentencing for a Level 6 Felony ranges from six months to two and a half years.
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Zachary Chetwood, 32, of Cedar Grove, was scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday, June 5, after pleading "not guilty" to five felonies, including Count 1: Attempted Aggravated Battery (L3), Count 2: Battery with Bodily Injury to a Public Safety Officer (L5), County 3: Intimidation (L5), Count 4: Criminal Recklessness (L5) and Count 6: Pointing a Firearm (L6). The charges stemmed from an officer-involved shooting between several Franklin County Sheriff's Department Deputies and Chetwood in Cedar Grove on May 24, 2022. However, on May 31, 2023, Chetwood changed his plea to "guilty" to four of the five felony counts. Count two was dismissed because it involved the same act as Count 1, and Chetwood cannot be sentenced to both under Indiana Law.
The guilty pleas were not made pursuant to a plea agreement with the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. The sentence will be left to the discretion of the Court. Following the Court's acceptance of Chetwood's guilty plea, Chetwood was remanded to the Franklin County Security Center. Judge Cox ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 26.
On May 24, 2022, deputies responded to a 911 call stating Chetwood was suicidal and possessed a firearm. Upon arrival, Chetwood exited his vehicle and pointed a handgun at the officers with the intent to commit suicide by cop. Chetwood was ordered to drop the weapon several times but continued to point the gun at the responding officers. After several seconds gunfire ensued. Chetwood was shot almost immediately. When gunfire ceased, deputies immediately approached Chetwood, securing his weapon, and began first aid on the suspect. No deputies were injured during the incident. Chetwood was air cared to University Hospital in Cincinnati for gun wounds to the abdomen and leg.
Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp notified Franklin County Sheriff Pete Cates on May 24 that the force used by the deputies was justified.
"The details of the investigation, as noted in the probable cause affidavit, show that the deputies were compelled to act in order to address a serious threat, and as a result of their response, the only person injured was the suspect - the source of the threat," Huerkamp stated in a press release.
"Incredibly, even after exchanging gunfire with Mr. Chetwood, the deputies wasted no time in providing medical attention to him and may have even saved his life. Their actions here speak for themselves."
The sentencing range for a Level 3 Felony is three to sixteen years. Sentencing for a Level 5 Felony ranges from one to six years, and sentencing for a Level 6 Felony ranges from six months to two and a half years.