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Allen County Sheriff David Gladieux Charged With Misdemeanor Battery

Allen County Sheriff's Department

A special prosecutor charged Allen County Sheriff David Gladieux with misdemeanor battery in connection with an incident during July's Three Rivers Festival in downtown Fort Wayne.

In response to the charges, Gladieux entered into a pretrial diversion agreement with Special Prosecutor Rodney Cummings. If he upholds the terms of his end of the agreement, the misdemeanor charge will be dismissed.

As part of the agreement, Gladieux must undergo alcohol counseling, anger management counseling and issue a public apology. He must also remain free of any illegal conduct for a year, according to his attorney.

According to court documents. Gladieux entered and exited a bathroom in a closed VIP section of the Three Rivers Festival around 10:30 p.m. on July 16. A teenage volunteer saw him in the area and told him he couldn’t be there because the area was closed.

The teen asked Gladieux if he could see his VIP badge for the area, and Gladieux said “I’m the sheriff, move out of my way,” according to court documents. 

The teen told investigators that he reached out his or her hands to slow down Gladieux and again asked to see the VIP badge. Gladieux held up the badge and then released it, and pushed the teen to the ground. The teen struck a metal stake on the way down to the ground and was examined by medics, and later at a hospital, according to court documents.

Gladieux told investigators the teen placed his or her hands on his chest to restrict him from leaving the area, and that Gladieux continued to walk towards the teen. As the teen’s hands were out, Gladieux pushed his hands upward, causing the teen to fall backward into the fence, according to court documents.

According to a statement released by Gladieux’s attorney, the sheriff does not admit any wrongdoing and stands by his account of events. Gladieux does admit to acting unprofessionally, according to the release.

In his own public apology, Gladieux said “In retrospect, if believe that I could and should have handled the entirety of the situation with more professionalism.

For that, I am deeply sorry. I also deeply regret my conduct while interacting with various Fort Wayne Police Officers. I am willing to fully accept responsibility for my actions by accepting the conditions set forth in a pretrial diversion agreement offered through by Special Prosecutor at this time. “

 

Rebecca manages the news at WBOI. She joined the staff in December 2017, and brought with her nearly two decades of experience in print journalism, including 15 years as an award-winning reporter for the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne.
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