Jennings Co. Prosecutor Releases Findings from Officer Involved Shooting

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 10:48 AM

ISP-Versailles Post investigated the incident in February.

Photo provided.

(Jennings County, Ind.) – Jennings County prosecutor Brian Belding has released his findings from an officer involved shooting that resulted in the death of one.

Detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post investigated the incident and then turned the investigation over to Prosecutor Belding.

The incident on February 3 took place at an address in the 4000 block of West County Road 175 North, where Devin Lark was shot and killed.

Lark, 29, was wanted on multiple felony warrants out of Clark and Jennings counites and was attempting to flee law enforcement at the time of the incident.

One Jennings County deputy gave Lark verbal commands to show his hands and realized Lark was holding a firearm. The deputy immediately grabbed the gun in an attempt to take control of the firearm. A struggle ensued leading the a single shot being fired at Lark.

In Prosecutor Belding’s 18-page review, he cited the circumstances surrounding the issuance of warrant for Lark. He was charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft and battery resulting in bodily injury in May of 2021. After the process to select jurors for trial, Lark skipped court and was absent for trial, where he was found guilty by jury on February 2.

“Based on the evidence this may explain why Devin Lark conducted himself the way he did on February 3, to avoid going to prison for what he may have through was a significant time. However, we will never know for certain what motivated Lark’s actions that resulted in his death. His autopsy revealed that he had illegal substances in his blood which likely effected his judgement to flee from law enforcement while possessing a firearm,” reads a portion of Prosecutor Belding’s report.

Belding added that deputy body cameras and statements are consistent with the evidence, and that the use of deadly force was justified.