Woman dies after restrained by police during gathering at church
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A woman died Friday after being physically restrained by police Wednesday during a possible mental health crisis inside a northeast side church.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Friday evening said 43-year-old Eleanor Northington had been taken off life support. The Marion County Coroner’s Office wil perform an autopsy to determine the woman’s cause and manner of death.
Officers wtih IMPD were initially called to Greater Mt. Calvary Apostolic Church, 6635 E. 42nd St., just before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a disturbance. After arriving on scene, officers were told that a woman, later identified as Northington, was possibly having a mental health crisis and had become combative with members of the congregation, according to a release from IMPD.
Police say that a behavioral health officer had tried to diffuse the situation before they arrived.
When officers approached the woman and she “began assaulting” them, police physically restrained her and put her in handcuffs, IMPD said. Shortly after, officers saw the woman was not breathing, removed the handcuffs and began to administer CPR. Medical professionals arrived and took her to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition.
Officers said more than 20 people inside the church saw what happened and were cooperating with police. The officers involved in the incident had been placed on administrative leave during the investigation and had not been named by IMPD.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call IMPD at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.