Trooper who shot, killed man put on administrative leave
CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – The Indiana State Police trooper who shot and killed a Linden man near Crawfordsville has been put on administrative leave.
Trooper Daniel Organ has no disciplinary record, the state police said in a news release issued Wednesday night.
The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. Friday on U.S. 231 near Montgomery County Road 550 North. That’s near North Montgomery High School.
The family of 56-year-old Glenn Rightsell, of Linden, said he was working on his daughter’s car, which had broken down along the side of a rural state road earlier in the day, when he was shot.
State police said Organ had tagged the abandoned black Chevrolet Tahoe SUV shortly before 4 p.m. Friday on U.S. 231.
Organ was driving on the same highway around 6:30 p.m. Friday and noticed a white Dodge car had pulled up in front of the Tahoe and had the hood open.
According to state police, the trooper reportedly walked up to Rightsell while giving commands and Rightsell allegedly grabbed the gun that Rightsell had on his waist.
The trooper shot Rightsell at least once, state police said.
On Saturday, Ken Steen shared cellphone video with News 8 that shows the moments following the shooting.
About 100 people gathered Sunday at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Crawfordsville for a vigil in Rightsell’s honor.
The release said state police will not talk about the ongoing investigation but will send the results of it to Montgomery County Proseuctor Joseph R. Buser.
Trooper Organ was mentioned in a News 8 story about 33 new troopers graduating in October 2017. Organ is with the Lafayette post.
