WVCF Officers Charged with Using Excessive Force

Four former officers at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility are charged with using excessive force against inmates.

An investigation by prison officials and the Indiana State Police has led to arrest warrants for Bradley Keller, Marty Getchell, Thomas Kaiser and Derek Werden.

All four are facing preliminary charges of Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury–a class C Felony.

The charges stem from incidents on August 26th–when they allegedly assaulted offenders in the facility.

Officials say the incidents happened just minutes after a fight broke out in a housing unit there.

Officer Timothy Betts of Jasonville collapsed while helping escort the inmates to a seperate unit.

He was pronounced dead a short time later at the Sullivan County Hospital.

Investigators say two inmates were then assaulted by Keller, Getchell, Kaiser and Werden–while they were being escorted out of the area.

The inmates were treated for injuries and then transferred to other state facilities.

All four accused officers have been terminated from their positions.