Deputy Sheriff John Durm
Officer: Marion County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Sheriff John Durm
Date: 7/10/2023 Location: Indianapolis, IN FACTORS (1,2,12)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Orlando Mitchell
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Mitchell had “two active domestic violence-related warrants” and was charged with “murder, intimidation, strangulation, confinement, domestic battery, intimidation, invasion of privacy, and residential entry” for the September 2022 killing of his ex-girlfriend. / Yes, while in jail awaiting trial for murder, Mitchell attacked a deputy.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/34
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 11:30 a.m. on July 10, 2023, Marion County Deputy Sheriff John Durm escorted murder suspect, Orlando Mitchell back to the detention center from the hospital. Upon arriving at the detention center, Deputy Durm exited the prisoner transport van and opened the rear door for Mitchell to exit as well.
Actions taken by subject toward police: When Deputy Durm turned to put down the crate he was holding, Mitchell attacked him by raising his handcuffed hands over Durm’s head and using the chain linking his handcuffs to choke Durm to death. After killing Durm, Mitchell stole his keys to remove the handcuffs and then stole the prisoner transport van, driving it through the gate and crashing into a pole.
Reactions by the police: Sheriff’s office deputies and an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer quickly caught Mitchell, arrested him and transported him to the hospital.
How murdered? Deputy Durm was strangled by a prisoner he escorted for a medical appointment.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? For officer safety, a minimum of two officers should be used to escort violent prisoners, and they should always maintain tactical awareness around such prisoners.
Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Had Deputy Durm been able to access any kind of weapon he would have been justified to use it.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Mitchell was caught and charged with two counts of murder, one count of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of escape.
