Former Indianapolis Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Violating Civil Rights of Homeless Man in 2021 Arrest

A former Indianapolis police sergeant pleaded guilty this week to violating the civil rights of a homeless man, whom he kicked in the face during an arrest in 2021, federal authorities said. Eric Huxley, 44, entered a guilty plea Monday in federal court to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison when sentenced, the Justice Department said.

The charge came just over a year after the illegal arrest, on Sept. 24, 2021, of a man identified in court documents by the initials “J.K.” Police body camera footage shows Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Eric Huxley kicking the man in the face while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground.

“This police officer violently and callously assaulted a homeless man who posed no threat,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement. “The Justice Department will not tolerate the abuse of power by law enforcement officers, and we will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who violate the civil rights of those in their custody.”

Huxley was indicted last October on one count of deprivation of rights under the color of law. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2021. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The incident has sparked outrage in the Indianapolis community, with many calling for the police department to take action against Huxley and other officers involved in the incident. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has launched an internal investigation into the incident and has said it will take appropriate action once the investigation is complete.