On Sunday January 10, 2016 at approximately 0008 hours, officers with the Lafayette Police Department were dispatched to Claystone at the Crossing, regarding multiple reports of shots being fired. While en route to the call, a marked Lafayette Police cruiser was involved in a traffic crash at the intersection of Kossuth Street and Earl Avenue.
Officer Dustin Rusk was responding to the incident with lights and siren activated. Officer Rusk entered the intersection westbound on Kossuth, and struck a northbound vehicle on Earl Avenue. The second vehicle was driven by Michael Riehle, 48, of Lafayette.
Investigation at the scene determined that Officer Rusk had entered the intersection against the red light. The slick roadway surface and poor visibility contributed to the crash. Further investigation determined that Riehle was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Riehle was subsequently arrested and booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail on a charge of Operating While Intoxicated.
Officer Rusk was treated for minor injuries at a health care facility. Riehle was not injured.
Although multiple individuals reported shots fired at Claystone, investigating officers located no injured parties at the complex. It was unclear if damage located in the area was caused by gunfire or not. The investigations into these incidents are ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Lafayette Police Department at 765-807-1200, or the anonymous WeTip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME.
The fact a person(s) has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant(s) is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.