Officers Involved In Shooting Identified
- Sgt. Gregory Stuart Smith
- Patrolman Todd A. Shidler
- Patrolman Coty R. Brown
GOSHEN — Three officers from the Goshen Police Department were involved in the Wednesday, April 5, shooting of 19-year old Michael Alcaraz. They are identified as:
Sgt. Gregory Stuart Smith, hired Jan. 2, 1987; Patrolman Todd A. Shidler, hired Oct. 27, 1995; and Patrolman Coty R. Brown, hired, Nov. 19, 2015.
Indiana State Police continue to investigate the police action shooting that happened around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, in Goshen. The circumstances surrounding the initial call from the BP gas station that led police to the area and ultimately to chase and shoot Michael Alcaraz, 19, Bristol, in the parking lot of the Double D Bar and Grill are still under investigation.
The bystander injured in the shooting has been identified as 68-year-old Fernando Cuevas of Goshen. Cuevas was in the parking lot of the Double D Bar and Grill in the area the suspect was shot. Cuevas received a gunshot wound to the back of his shoulder. Cuevas was initially taken to Goshen Health Hospital before he was transferred to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. His condition is listed as stable at this time. Police have yet to determine who shot Cuevas.
Alcaraz, who died at the scene and has ties to the Chicago area, was taken to Kalamazoo, Mich., where an autopsy was performed Thursday, April 6. Police recovered a shotgun from Alcaraz at the scene.
“At this point in the investigation we don’t have a clear motive for the suspect’s actions yesterday,” stated ISP Lead Detective Lourdes Lemler. The state police and other local departments have already interviewed several individuals who either witnessed the events or were approached by the armed man, commented Lemler.
The state police is asking anyone that may have been approached by the suspect, Alcaraz, or may have information about the shooting to contact the Bremen Post at (574) 546-4900.