Police shoot Brown County man 2 times, investigation reveals

A Nashville, Ind., man pointed a gun at police officers before police shot and killed him Thursday evening, according to the findings of an Indiana State Police investigation.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Troy Harden, 44, was at a residence on Annandale Drive, and there were warrants for his arrest, according to a press release from ISP Bloomington Public Information Officer Curt Durnil.

Harden was wanted for probation violations out of Monroe County.
 
Harden was previously arrested for witnessing the murders of two men in 2007.
According to court documents, Harden said he helped Jerry Pelfree place the bodies of Douglas Brown, 35, and Everett Shaw, 23, in barrels and concealed the barrels inside a box truck. Harden said he was present during the murders and destroyed evidence by helping Pelfree burn the couch that Brown was shot on. Harden pled guilty to assisting a criminal.

Pelfree was sentenced to 130 years in prison for the murders.
Harden was also previously charged with resisting law enforcement and battery, among other crimes.

Before 9 p.m. on Thursday, the renter of the residence allowed Brown County and Nashville law enforcement into the house to serve the arrest warrants. The officers said when they located Harden, he resisted arrest and told police to “kill him.”

Officers saw Harden was carrying a handgun and an officer deployed his taser, but Harden escaped through a window.

Officers chased Harden through the woods and on Annandale Drive. Officers tased Harden again. He then pointed his gun at officers when he fell to the ground, according to the release.

Officers fired their guns, striking Harden twice. Harden was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Bartholomew County Coroner Larry Fisher said Harden died from the loss of blood as the result of two gunshot wounds to the abdomen.

ISP investigators located Harden’s handgun at the scene Friday and located parts of a methamphetamine lab in his truck.

The investigation is ongoing.

Follow reporter Matt Stefanski on Twitter @stefanskimatt.