ISP Submits Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting Report To Prosecutor

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, IN — The Indiana State Police announced Friday the preliminary investigative report of the Dec. 28 officer-involved shooting of Glenn Rightsell by Trooper Daniel Organ has been submitted to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office, awaiting final results of any follow-up requests from the prosecutor, and the autopsy report which officials anticipate receiving in the next several weeks.

According to a release from ISP, Trooper Organ from the Lafayette Post was involved in a police action shooting at 6:35 p.m., Dec. 28 on US 231 near County Road 550 north. Almost three hours earlier, at 3:48 p.m., Organ was traveling northbound on US 231 near County Road 550 North, where ISP said he stopped and checked a black 2207 Chevrolet Tahoe that appeared to be left on the side of the road. Because the Chevy was off the travel lanes of the highway, the trooper tagged the vehicle letting officers know it had been checked, and went on with his patrol, ISP said.

However, at 6:35 p.m. Organ was driving southbound by the Tahoe he tagged earlier and saw a second car, reported as a white 2018 Dodge, had pulled up in front of the Tahoe, ISP said.

A person, now identified as Glenn Rightsell, 56, of Linden, was at the front of the vehicle with the hood open and Organ noticed the man had a handgun on his waist, ISP said. Organ pulled around behind the Tahoe and parked with his emergency lights and spotlight on to investigate why the second vehicle was there, according to ISP.

As the trooper approached from the driver’s side of the Tahoe he identified himself as a law enforcement officer and verbally gave commands to Mr. Rightsell, who police accuse of not complying to Organ's orders by instead grabbing the gun on his waist, leading the trooper to draw his gun and fire at Mr. Rightsell, hitting him at least once.

According to ISP, Organ went back to his police vehicle where he told Region 1 Radio that shots were fired and requested assistance. The Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians responded to the scene and conducted the investigation with assistance from several other local law enforcement agencies and first responders. ISP provided the full report to the Montgomery County Prosecutor.

Rightsell was taken to Franciscan Hospital in Crawfodsville where he died due to his injuries, ISP said.

Organ has been a member of the state police since October 2017 and has no disciplinary record, ISP reported, adding that he is currently on administrative leave.

ISP said during this review process they'll have no further comments related to the investigation.

For updates and to see more details on points in the investigation, visit in.gov/isp/.

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