Lafayette police officer disciplined for inappropriate text messages with victim

Ron Wilkins | Journal & Courier

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Lafayette police Officer Daniel Sells is serving a 10-day suspension for inappropriate texting with a domestic battery victim, according to the Lafayette police response to a Journal & Courier freedom of information request.

Sells, who had been an evidence technician, investigated a domestic battery call on Feb. 28. As part of that investigation, he interviewed the victim and took photographs of the victim and the crime scene, according to the police.

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Between Feb. 28 and March 6, Sells sent text messages to the victim. Some of those texts had inappropriate sexual overtones, according to the police. He also texted crime scene photos to the victim.

A forensic investigation of the victim's phone by the prosecutor's office indicated the victim had deleted some of the text messages and photographs from Sells, according to police.

The prosecutor's office notified the police department, which began an internal investigation.

Sells had been suspended for five days for accidentally shooting a taser into a co-worker while horseplaying.

On May 30, the Civil Service Commission approved a stipulation that suspended Sells for 10 additional days and demoted him from evidence technician to patrol officer.

The Journal & Courier requested to see that stipulation since it was part of the record, as per the commission's motion. That request was denied.

The Journal & Courier filed a complaint Monday with the Indiana Public Access Counselor's office in an effort to inspect the stipulation record that was approved at the meeting.

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