Prosecutor: Police shooting justified

MONTICELLO, Ind. (WLFI) - One week after a Monticello Police officer fired a shot at a suspect in an armed robbery, the White County Prosecutor concludes the shooting was justified. Now the suspect faces four felony charges.

Prosecutor Bob Guy said Tuesday Monticello Lieutenant Nate Miller acted in a lawful manner when he shot Gerald Lee Doll on February 21. Miller believed Doll posed a threat to his safety, and that of others around him, Guy said in a statement.

Tuesday afternoon, the White County Prosecutor's Office held an oral probable cause hearing for Doll and charged him with four felonies: robbery, as a class B felony; robbery as a class C felony; resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, a class D felony; and residential entry, a class D felony.

Guy said Doll was released from Methodist Hospital Tuesday, where authorities were waiting with a warrant for his arrest. He was en route to the White County Jail Tuesday afternoon, where his bond was set at $100,000 cash or corporate surety.

Last week, Twin Lakes Coin Laundry was robbed and the Bank of Wolcott was also robbed a short time later.

Guy said it was dispatched multiple times that there was an "armed robbery," and the suspect was the same in both robberies. When police found Doll's vehicle, he refused to stop and drove off in a reckless manner, Guy said.

Doll ran through the Twin Lakes School Administration Building and was chased by Miller by foot, Guy said. He said Doll ignored multiple commands to stop by Miller.

Doll then kicked in the back door of a Monticello home, where a woman was inside, Guy said, and he continued to ignore commands to stop.

Guy said Miller fired a shot at Doll after he continued to ignore police commands. Indiana State Police previously told NewsChannel 18 the suspect was shot in the abdomen.

Troopers said a passenger in Doll's vehicle was questioned and released last week. Charges are not expected to be filed against him, as troopers said he appeared to be a "victim of circumstance."