West Terre Haute Police Department

02/24/2025

05/01/2024

On 04/30/2024, Sgt. Ryan Martin and Sgt. Greg Davis were patrolling as a two-man unit in West Terre Haute. The officers were notified by the desk Officer Mike Anderson of a call to the department regarding aggressive dogs in the area of the West Vigo Community Center. The caller advised several dogs were chasing children when they would get off the school bus. The caller also advised this is an ongoing issue. Sgt. Martin marked en route to the area. Vigo County Central Dispatch advised the officers that they were currently on the phone with an individual reporting the same problem to them. Upon arrival at the intersection of Johnson Ave. and Arthur Pl., the officers were approached by several people who pointed to two loose dogs near the address of 8 E. Johnson Ave. The bystanders advised these dogs were the ones chasing kids and trying to bite them. Sgt. Martin stayed with the bystanders while Sgt. Davis approached the dogs. One dog, a small black chihuahua, and the other was tan colored mid-sized dog. As he approached, the black dog began to approach Sgt. Davis in a non-aggressive manner. Sgt. Davis reached down to pet it when the tan dog lunged and barked at him. Sgt. Davis attempted to get the tan dog to come to him, and it started to. Sgt. Davis reached out to let the dog sniff his hand, and it began barking and lunging at him. Sgt. Davis tried to shoo the dog away, but it continued to lunge and snap at him. Sgt. Davis began to kick at the dog to get it away from him, and it lunged at him again snapping and barking at him. Sgt. Davis then drew his department issued sidearm and fired one shot, striking the dog in the head. The dog immediately went down and passed.

Sgt. Davis interviewed neighbors regarding the dogs. One neighbor stated the dogs were able to get out all the time, and they were always aggressive towards everybody in the neighborhood. Witness was able to contact the owner, Victoria McVey, on the phone. Witness gave the phone to Sgt. Davis. When Sgt. Davis explained what happened and that her dog was put down, Victoria hollered and cursed at Sgt. Davis stating, "Are you kidding me?", and "F**k You!" and she hung up the phone.

Sgt. Martin contacted Ordinance Officer Jim Crowley to come retrieve the deceased canine to have the health department come and get it later. Officer Crowley arrived a few minutes later and loaded the canine into his truck. Sugar Creek Fire Department was dispatched for a wash down of the sidewalk. While awaiting the fire department to arrive, a juvenile approached the officers advising that approximately two hours prior, he was in his yard a block away and the dogs approached him trying to bite him. The juvenile had a baseball bat and was able to defend himself. The dogs then ran off. Once the fire department was complete, all units went complete.
The shooting incident was recorded and downloaded for preservation by Sgt. Martin’s dashcam.

10/05/2023

From our Red Line Brothers & Sisters!

05/25/2023

04/01/2023

We would like to announce the newest member of the West Terre Haute Police Narcotics K9 Team. “Krease” is a 3 week old Nigerian Dwarf goat being trained on narcotics detection. He is assigned to Officer Tommy Roberts from our K9 team. With Krease’s smaller size, he will be able to get into small, tight spaces for a more thorough narcotics search.

03/07/2023

Press Release

23-WTH-00100

On March 3rd, 2023 at 1:11 am, a West Terre Haute Police Officer was returning to West Terre Haute when he witnessed a maroon minivan traveling south on 1st Street from Maple Avenue with a broken right tail light and the vehicle did not utilize a turn signal while turning onto Maiden Ln. The Officer initiated a traffic stop. The driver stated that he did not have any kind of ID on him. The driver gave a name and birthdate which when the name was ran through Central Dispatch no information was found. The Officer re-approached the vehicle and requested the driver step out of his vehicle and he complied. The Officer instructed the driver to put his hands on the vehicle and stated he was going to detain him by handcuffing him for the Officer’s safety while figuring out who he was. As the Officer was about to routinely place handcuffs on the driver he then spun around and grabbed the Officer by his exterior vest and pulled the radio microphone away from the Officer’s vest. Vigo County Central Dispatch was attempting to contact the WTHPD Officer to check on his status and the Officer was unable to request assistance due to the driver grabbing him in a forceful manner. The Officer was able then to get to his radio to ask for assistance. The driver then broke free from the Officer’s physical hold and started to run through a yard towards an alley. The Officer then tased the driver from behind and the suspect fell forward in a prone position on the ground. A THPD Officer arrived and handcuffed the suspect. An ambulance was requested due to blood on the suspect’s face. A Vigo County Deputy and another WTHPD Officer arrived then on scene. The suspect was conscious and alert. One Taser probe hit the suspect’s left buttocks and the second probe went into the back of the head. The second Taser probe was not removed by the Officers on scene due to the sensitive location. Medic 7 ambulance transported the suspect to Union Hospital.
A WTHPD Officer performed an inventory process of the vehicle pursuant to department tow policy. A wallet was located in the front passenger seat with an ID belonging to the suspect. The Suspect was identified as Nathan Anthony Hoffman. A VCSD Deputy on scene ran the suspect information through Vigo County Central Dispatch and found Mr. Hoffman had an active Felony warrant out of Vigo County for a Felon in possession of a firearm. Central Dispatch also confirmed Mr. Hoffman’s driver’s license was Suspended with a Prior Suspension. Also in the vehicle was located a black pouch in the front seat. Inside the pouch was baggies of suspected ma*****na and also found was white powdery substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Also located was a multi-colored rubber pipe with visible black residue.
WTHPD was advised by Union Hospital that Mr. Hoffman will need to be transportedby TransCare Ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for damages to his face as the result of his fall after being tased. Later on the same day approximately 3pm WTHPD was contacted by the Methodist Hospital Police Department that Mr. Hoffman was able to leave the care of the hospital and they have him detained until WTHPD arrives to transport to the Vigo County Jail.
A WTHPD Officer and a WTHPD Detective arrived at Methodist. Mr. Hoffman stated he had already eaten prior to the officer’s arrival and he was ready to leave. Mr. Hoffman had multiple wounds on his face and he showed the officers his bottom lip and stated the hospital removed 13 rocks from inside his lip. Mr. Hoffman was placed in the front passenger side of the Detectives SUV due tothe police vehicle not having a “cage”. Mr. Hoffman while on the trip to Vigo County asked if he could call his wife to let her know what was happening and the officers allowed it. But he could not get his phone to work due to not having internet access. TheWTHPD Detective allowed Mr. Hoffman to connect to his in-car WiFi to contact his wife. Mr. Hoffman was then booked in the Vigo County Jail without further incident. While in the book in area Mr. Hoffman made statements admitting to the battery on the Officer.

Charges:

Level 5 Felony Possession of Methamphetamine

Level 6 Felony Battery against Public Safety Official Engaged in Official Duty

Level A Misdemeanor Resisting Law Enforcement

Level A Misdemeanor Possession of Ma*****na

Level A Misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia

Level A Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended with Prior Suspension in 10 years

Level B Misdemeanor False Reporting

Also the Felony Warrant for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon was served at the jail.

01/04/2023

Wthpd is accepting applications until January 20th.

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas!

11/25/2022