Muncie Police: Officer with deadly car crash in previous police job qualified to serve

The Muncie Police Department says a new officer is fully qualified to serve the city, even though he struck and killed a pedestrian with a patrol car as an officer at a previous job in North Carolina.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour swore in new Muncie police officer Treyston Johnson in late July.

Johnson is new to Muncie.  He previously served as a police officer in Kinston, North Carolina.  It was there in 2021 while on duty that Johnson, in a patrol car, struck and killed Lyndon Williams, who was crossing the street.

After an investigation by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Johnson was not charged in the incident.  At the time, the city’s interim police chief said Williams was not using the intersection’s crosswalk, so was considered “at fault in the wreck.”  Johnson was on leave during the investigation, but was returned to full duty.

In a statement, Muncie Police Chief Nathan Sloan says police officers deal with “an infinite number of difficult situations.”  He says Johnson disclosed the incident in his interview to join the department, and has a “passion to serve his new community.”

Sloan also says accusations Johnson has used excessive force and has driven while drunk are “baseless, libelous, and false.”

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at [email protected].