Opinion ID: 854128
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Officer Richard Weaver

Text: While on duty on the night of August 7-8, 1995, Indianapolis police officer Richard Weaver was directed to the residence of Jackson's brother to investigate a claim of a stolen vehicle. Jackson met Weaver in front of the house and told him that McEwen had stolen her car. Jackson also asserted that McEwen had stabbed her in the thumb, but she refused to show Weaver the injury and declined his offer to get medical attention. Weaver and Jackson then drove to the house she shared with McEwen a block away where McEwen met them at the door. Jackson entered to collect her clothing and immediately began arguing with McEwen. Weaver described the situation as follows: I would say it was fairly hostile. They were arguing back and forth. Several times I had to interrupt them. They were cursing at each other. She was still at the time, going from room to room collecting her clothing. At one time, she went in the kitchen. He tried to prevent her from going in there. She forced her way by. I again separated the two parties. At that time, Mr. McEwen looked at me and stated if that police officer wasn't here, she he again blocked her way from exiting the kitchen. She shoved him back. I again broke up the two parties. They continued to curse back and forth at each other. McEwen next helped Jackson move some of her clothes and other items out to her car. Weaver ordered McEwen back into the house after he threw a portable stereo to the floor of the porch. Jackson eventually told Weaver that because her car would not start she would go on foot to her brother's nearby house. Weaver left to investigate his next call but soon received a dispatch summoning him back to Jackson's house to investigate a report of a stabbing. When he arrived, he saw Jackson lying on the ground outside surrounded by several people. McEwen, who was in the house at that point, was quickly apprehended. Weaver noticed a small laceration on McEwen's face that was not there when Weaver first visited the house. After being taken into custody and read his Miranda rights, McEwen told police that he would explain what happened if his handcuffs were removed. Police became suspicious and searched him after he repeated this request several times. The search uncovered a kitchen cutting knife in McEwen's right front pocket. When McEwen saw the knife, he said: How'd that get there. Although there was blood on the knife when it was recovered from McEwen, the knife was never tested for fingerprints or to determine whose blood it bore.