It’s been two months since Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry was arrested for OWI. In that time, Henry has publicly apologized, pleaded guilty, and been sentenced in court but has not released the arrest report nor the video of his arrest.
After the State Public Access Counselor got involved, that all changed.
At a press conference Friday morning, Henry again apologized for his OWI arrest in October.
He called the press conference to respond to the Indiana Public Access Counselor’s published opinion that Henry and the City of Fort Wayne have no right to withhold the police body cam video of his arrest.
Friday, Henry remarked that it has been city policy to not release body cam video of any arrest, but after the Public Access Counselor got involved, Henry changed his mind.
“I asked the legal staff to not contest the challenge,” Henry said Friday.
City officials released the video soon after Friday’s press conference. The video initially shows Henry cooperating with police after his accident, but after he blew a .156 on a breathalyzer and was put in handcuffs, his demeanor changed.
“You’re going to actually take me in? I just cannot believe you put me in handcuffs," he said on the video. "I am the mayor of the city.”
Henry has since praised the responding officers for their conduct in his arrest and reiterated that praise Friday.
“They handled it with professionalism and grace,” he said.