LAWRENCE CO.—A wild police chase that ended in Bridgeport has now ended up with a family saying they’re hiring an attorney over how the suspect was handled once stopped.
The family of Ricky Brochin, 31, of Bridgeport, has gone the distance to get the man a lawyer primarily because of the actions of Bridgeport officer Scott Murray, who not only allegedly TASERed the man unnecessarily, but also charged him for a drug—meth—that there exists no proof that he had in his possession.
This wouldn’t be the first time Murray, Bridgeport’s only police officer, fabricated a charge against a suspect, nor would it be the first time Lawrence’s prosecutor Lisa Wade followed through on such fabricated charges…but it might be the last, as Wade is set to face a tough challenge in the November election for her job as state’s attorney.
Was wanted in Knox
Brochin works as a tree trimmer for Halter Tree Service in Vincennes.
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, the rainy weather precluded the service from conducting business so he was headed home.
However, Brochin was driving on a suspended license; as well, he had been catching the attention of Knox County authorities lately with some neglectful behavior: About six months ago, he and his long-time girlfriend were in his parents’ van and he was driving suspended in Vincennes when city police recognized him and gave chase. Brochin at that time was able to get away, parking the van at one of the Dollar General stores in Vincennes and going to a friend’s house nearby.
However, he ceased reporting to his probation officer at that time, a bad move because he was released from Indiana Department of Corrections in 2005 on a Knox County Possession of a Controlled Substance charge, and was required to check in.
Headed back to Bridgeport from Knox County, he was again spotted driving a red truck his mother had reportedly purchased for him recently, and because it was a recent purchase, it either didn’t have a proper plate or the plate was improperly displayed (both conditions have been reported.) Knox County officials gave chase when they observed this, and Brochin allegedly refused to pull over.
Stop-sticks deployed
Seeing he was headed for the state line, Knox County authorities deployed stop-sticks (spiked devices thrown across the road, which will blow out tires and cause other damage to fleeing vehicles, all in the name of preventing high-speed chases and people “getting away” from pursuing authorities) but somehow, Brochin was able to avoid them.
He made it into Lawrence County, which was where local authorities joined the pursuit.
When it became clear that Brochin was pulling off U.S. 50 and headed into Bridgeport, more stop-sticks were deployed on advance of his route, and these worked.
The front driver’s side tire was blown, but Brochin continued, with all police chasing him down Judy Avenue through the middle of town.
Ultimately, headed for his residence, the vehicle, on its last leg with the blown tire, became so unstable that Brochin had to abandon it on Olive Street. He ran from the truck, headed toward his residence located about a block away from the scene, but Murray was able to intercept him, managing to strike Brochin with a TASER as Brochin was clearing a ditch in an effort to elude officers pursuing on foot.
Girlfriend arrives; meth charged
Brochin’s girlfriend, either noticing the commotion or being alerted to it by someone who knew what was going on, arrived on scene almost at the same time as Brochin was being hit with the TASER.
Reportedly, Murray showed her a scratch on his leg, ostensibly received in a “struggle” with Brochin, as justification for using the TASER.
He then went back to the truck and began searching through it.
Because Brochin had been working out of town, he had a bag full of a couple of changes of clothes, as well as a pill bottle in it. The pill bottle was lacking a label; sources report, however, that it was legitimately his, and contained his prescription of Lortabs.
However, it was empty except for residue. Apparently, Brochin had either consumed the contents of the bottle or tossed them out on the drive across the river and into town. Whatever the case, Murray found the bottle and field tested it.
He then claimed it tested positive for meth, there at the scene.
Those at the scene who observed this declared that they saw the test indicator turn up pink, which means “negative,” not “positive.” They also declare they heard him say something to the effect of “Because you made me chase you, I’m charging you with meth” to Brochin.
When Brochin’s parents demanded later that day that he be tested for meth, Lawrence County of course refused.
The next day, the family located an attorney (whose identity Disclosure was unable to confirm as of press time), who went to see Wade about the matter. Reportedly, Wade promised that Brochin would be tested for meth via bloodwork, and said work would be sent to the lab.
The status of the bottle, and testing thereof for actual meth residue, remained unknown as of press time.
Precedent set
This isn’t the first time Wade has taken Murray’s word for what he “found” during his “investigation” into Bridgeport happenings.
Thus far, Murray has prevented just legal action from occurring against mayor Max Schauf’s errant kid, Mark, and his buddies following their beating of a young man in 2009; and has managed to prompt two federal lawsuits over ridiculous charges he and Wade did file (businessman Jamie Brunson’s, and former Bridgeport officer Dave Dooley’s).
Pending hearings for Brochin also remain unknown as of press time; however, he stands charged in Lawrence with a traffic violation of Driving on a Suspended License and felony Possession of Meth less than 5 grams (Class 3) and Aggravated Fleeing Police (Class 4).
Court dates for Brochin have not yet been set, and he remained jailed as of press time.