Indiana State Police Investigating Police-Involved Shooting in Salem

One person dead

On July 3, 2019, at approximately 2 p.m., The Indiana State Police (ISP) in Sellersburg were dispatched to the area of the Washington County Fairgrounds in Salem after a report of an officer-involved shooting involving Salem city police officers.

ISP detectives assumed the investigation upon arriving on-scene at the request of the Salem Police Department and were assisted by officers from the Washington County Sheriff's Department.

The initial evidence and investigation reveal that shortly before 2 p.m., two Salem City Police officers arrived on fairgrounds property to investigate a suspicious person call involving a male subject. Officers eventually located the subject, now identified as Mark A. Naugle, 53, Scottsburg, Indiana, standing in the creek which borders the property. During the encounter, Naugle approached the officers brandishing a hammer and refused repeated commands to drop the hammer and stop approaching, prompting at least one Salem police officer to fire their weapon, striking and killing Naugle.

Both police officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in police-involved shootings.

This investigation is ongoing, including an autopsy, and more information will be released as it becomes available.   Once the preliminary investigation has been completed, all information will be turned over to the Washington County Prosecutor for review.