WAYNE/RANDOLPH COUNTIES, IN — Detectives from the Indiana State Police Pendleton District are investigating the death of a rural Randolph County man. The death, which involved the assault of an off-duty Richmond police officer, happened this week following a pursuit through Wayne and Randolph counties.
Early Tuesday morning, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received information reporting the theft of a 1985 Peterbilt semi-tractor.
At 11:42 a.m. an off-duty Richmond police officer, later identified as Officer Austin Adams, located the stolen vehicle traveling on US27 near Union Pike.
Officer Adams was off-duty and was traveling in his personally owned vehicle, and followed the stolen semi while attempting to get uniformed officers to the area.
The driver of the semi, for an unknown reason, pulled over to the side of Webster Road near Flatley Road, which allowed Officer Adams to make contact with the driver.
Upon identifying himself as a police officer, Adams was assaulted by the driver who was later identified as 40-year-old Troy M. Lewis, of rural Randolph County.
Lewis fled the scene after the assault.
Deputies from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Fountain City Police Department located Lewis after he fled the scene.
Lewis refused to stop as officers pursued him into southern Randolph County.
ISP says Lewis stopped his vehicle on Base Road south of County Road 850 South and refused to exit.
Officers heard a gunshot come from the vehicle, and they approached the vehicle and found Lewis suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
There were no rounds fired by police officers during the chase.
Medical professionals were summoned for both Officer Adams and Lewis.
They were both transported by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
Officer Adams is being treated for serious injuries.
Lewis was pronounced dead as a result of the self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officer Austin Adams is a four-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department.
There are currently no additional updates on his status.
Indiana State Police was assisted by the Wayne County and Randolph County sheriff’s offices, the Richmond Police Department, the Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office, and Pardo’s Wrecker.
(Indiana State Police Pendleton Post press release)
