Officer's actions toward Black Indiana senator under review

Indiana State Police are reviewing allegations that a white Capitol Police officer reached for his handgun while confronting a Black state senator inside the Statehouse over the weekend, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.

Ford of Indianapolis, who is white, said private security staff allowed the group inside before calling to the area two Capitol Police officers who were aggressive from the start.

Belinda Drake, a Democratic state Senate candidate from Indianapolis, said a white Capitol Police officer rushing toward the group saw Melton and yelled at him to “freeze” while unsnapping the holster on his firearm.

“Senator Ford tried to deescalate the situation, tried to get the trooper to take notice and listen, but the trooper was so singularly focused on Senator Melton,” Drake said.

State police spokesman 1st Sgt.

Ford said he understood the officers might not have realized he and Melton were legislators because they were wearing casual clothes