CEDAR GROVE, IN — A Cedar Grove man is facing a long list of felony counts after an exchange of gunfire with Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies last month.
Court records indicate that 31-year-old Zachary Chetwood has been charged with Attempted Aggravated Battery (Level 3 felony); Attempted Battery with a Deadly Weapon; Intimidation Using a Deadly Weapon; Criminal Recklessness (all Level 5 felonies), and Pointing a Firearm (Level 6 felony).
According to an Indiana State Police probable cause affadavit, Detective Grant Martin was dispatched to an officer-involved shooting in Cedar Grove on May 13 involving Chetwood and Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies. By the time Martin arrived, Chetwood had already been taken by Air Care to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp says Chetwood was on the line with Franklin County 9-1-1 while holding a gun and threatening suicide when deputies arrived at his home.
After being ordered several times to drop the weapon, Chetwood allegedly fired several rounds at deputies, who returned fire and struck him in the leg and abdomen.
During the gunfire, several shots went into a home next door. None of the five people in the home or deputies were injured.
After the exchange, deputies administered first aid to Chetwood before he was airlifted to the hospital.
Detective Martin in his affidavit noted that each of the deputies was equipped with dash cam video and audio and that he reviewed the footage of each during his investigation.
Huerkamp reviewed the incident and determined that the deputies’ use of force was justified.
Chetwood was listed in serious condition before recovering enough to be discharged from the hospital. He was arrested and charged upon his release from the hospital on June 7 and is being held in the Franklin County Security Center without bond.
Chetwood’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 am before Judge Steven Cox in Franklin Circuit Court.
“The details of the investigation, as noted in the probable cause affidavit, show that 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 said.
“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,” Huerkamp added.
