Suspended IMPD officer found guilty

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An Indianapolis officer who was arrested in April 2011 on charges of robbery and official misconduct has been found guilty.

Police say the jury deliberated for approximately four hours on Thursday before returning with their verdict.

Officer David Butler, a veteran of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, has been found guilty on two counts of robbery, a Class C felony, and two counts of official misconduct, a Class D felony.

Butler is facing two – 16 years in prison for these crimes.

He will be sentenced on Feb. 22 at 9 a.m.

Complaints by two alleged victims prompted an IMPD internal investigation.

IMPD said the complaints allege Officer David Butler, while on-duty in full police uniform and driving his fully marked police car, initiated traffic stops on the city's northwest side for apparent minor traffic violations.

During those traffic stops, the alleged victims said, Butler stole money and threatened arrest for license violations.

Butler is currently suspended from IMPD pending termination, police say.

IMPD Chief Rick Hite released the following statement Thursday night:

“Officer Butler does not represent nor is he indicative of all the hard working men and women of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, we work within and most importantly respect our judicial system and the jury has spoken.”