EPD discusses swift response in standoff and K9 arrest

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – Less than 10 seconds after jumping out of a stolen vehicle, suspect Shawn Grigsby was taken down. The truck’s owner says he was mowing when he saw Grigsby climb into the truck. Police say Grigsby tried to flee but crashed into a pole, forcing the vehicle to become stuck.

“He gave us his name and then he really just wasn’t he wasn’t answering our questions,” says Officer Trudy Day with the Evansville Police Department. “So I’m not sure what his state of mind was. I believe he did mention that he was not going back to prison at some point.”

Police say Grigsby has a long criminal record and is on parole for his involvement in a 2014 Warrick County murder. During a nearly hour-long standoff inside the truck, Grigsby ignored officers’ requests to exit the vehicle peacefully.

“He refused for a long period of time,” says Officer Day. “We use less lethal, so we used pepper ball and had to actually get him to leave the truck because he repeatedly refused to comply with our commands.”

Grigsby ran after officers used pepper balls and was later met by K9 Officer Orkan, and was apprehended by police. Had it not been for Officer Orkan, Detective Jaylen Blair says the foot pursuit would have looked much different.

“Probably a good little ways farther,” explains Detective Blair. “Luckily, you know, Evansville we’re lucky enough to have more than one K9 working, usually. So there was another K9 on scene, and I’m fairly confident he would have gotten the same job given the opportunity.”

With the busy business district of Green River Road being the unusual setting for a foot pursuit, Officer Day says keeping everyone safe was the top priority.

“We were able to clear out all the local businesses to make sure that everyone was safe. We had every plan in action to try to end this safely for the suspect, our officers and the public.”