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The city of Indianapolis has agreed to pay $3.75 million to the family of Herman Whitfield III, reaching a settlement nearly four years after Whitfield died during an altercation with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department that was later ruled a homicide, according to WXIN-TV Channel 59 (Fox59).
Attorneys representing Whitfield’s family said they could not comment on the amount reached in the settlement other than to say the parties are satisfied.
“I can say that Herman Whitfield III was a wonderful person and a musical genius, and that his parents loved him dearly and miss him every day,” Richard Waples with Richard & Waples told The Indiana Lawyer.
A city spokesperson told The Lawyer, “This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.”
Whitfield died in April 2022 after police were called to his home while he was experiencing a “mental health crisis,” according to previous reporting by The Indiana Lawyer. As police were attempting to calm Whitfield down, he allegedly ran toward an officer, who used his taser on Whitfield. While restraining him, officers discovered that Whitfield was unresponsive.
Whitfield died at the hospital. That June, his parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Marion Superior Court.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled Whitfield’s death a homicide, caused by heart failure as he was being restrained and shocked.
According to the report, Whitfield weighed 389 pounds. The coroner’s office listed “morbid obesity” and “hypertensive cardiovascular disease” as contributing factors in his death.
A Marion County grand jury indicted officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez on several felonies related to Whitfield’s death, including involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide. Both officers were tried together and found not guilty in December 2024.
According to Fox59, the defendants agreed to pay the family to settle the case but admitted to no wrongdoing.
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