IMPD Sergeant arrested on Official Misconduct charge

INDIANAPOLIS – A 31-year veteran with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) was arrested on Thursday, on allegations of official misconduct.

In October 2016, detectives with the IMPD Special Investigations Unit began to look into allegations of official misconduct involving 55-year-old Charles Butler after another IMPD officer brought suspicious activity to their attention. The incidents occurred over the course of more than a year at Mid America Auto Sales located at 1231 W Troy Ave. Butler was alleged to have been signing VIN inspection forms for salvage/wrecked vehicles without inspecting the vehicle itself and was being compensated by the auto dealer for each vehicle he signed off on.

After search warrants were executed, Chief Bryan Roach placed Butler on administrative duty in July of 2017. After a lengthy and thorough investigation, detectives submitted their findings to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for a review of criminal charges. Butler was charged Thursday with official misconduct, which is a felony.

Butler has been employed with IMPD since December 1986. He submitted his intent to retire from the IMPD on today’s date, 05/31/2018. The Probable Cause and Charging Affidavit will be available from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

A charge of a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.