Sergeant
Bryan Glenn Northern
Rocky Ripple Town Marshal's Office
Sunday, March 23, 1997
Age: 34
Served: 4 years
Panel 41E, Line 20
Panel L17, Line 6
Rocky Ripple Town Marshal's Office

Incident Details

Cause of Death
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident
Wednesday, February 19, 1997
03:30 pm
Incident to Death Duration
32 days
Incident Location
4138 Edgemere Court, Indianapolis
Incident County
Marion
Incident Township
Washington
Weapon Used
Handgun
Suspect Disposition
Sentenced to life without parole
(currently incarcerated)
Burial Place
Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Greenwood
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   Sergeant Bryan Northern and Colonel Robert Black were shot and injured while working private security at the Meadows apartment complex.

   The two officers had chased a man to an apartment after he caused a disturbance in the parking lot. They knocked on the door and announced themselves when they were shot by a man, completely unrelated to the man they were chasing, in the apartment who was wanted on a warrant for a probation violation. 

   Both officers were taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis. Colonel Black died from his injuries the following morning and Sergeant Northern died from his wounds on March 23, 1997. Neither officer was wearing a bullet-resistant vest.

   The 28-year-old male suspect was apprehended three days later after a five-hour standoff while holding a hostage. In a death penalty case, he was subsequently convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

   Sergeant Northern was survived by a brother.

Historical Note

• This incident was one of 24 which resulted in the line of duty deaths of two officers.



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