MICHIGANTOWN, Ind. (WISH) – Indiana State Police (ISP) say the suspect and officer who were shot and injured during a traffic stop in Michigantown are both recovering at a hospital in stable condition. 

Two deputy marshals with the Kirklin Police Department were shot Tuesday night, along with the suspect and an additional passenger, when a Clinton County Sheriff’s deputy called for backup on a traffic stop on State Road 29, just south of County Road 400 North. 

It’s not clear what led up to the gunshots. 

ISP, which is leading the investigation, says one Kirklin deputy marshal was injured, but the second marshal’s vest stopped the bullet. Officers fired back, shooting the suspect. ISP investigators claim the suspect tried to run away before being arrested. 

There were four adults and one child in the vehicle being pulled over. ISP says the shooting happened when all adult occupants were out of the vehicle and the child wasn’t hurt. The additional passenger hit by gunfire had “non-life-threatening injuries.”

Evan Hudzinski was sitting in his Michigantown home, watching television, when he heard the shooting start. 

“Just hear about five, six, or seven small cracks,” Hudzinski said. “All of a sudden, there was an ambulance, two cop cars, another ambulance, then about 18 cop cars.”

The morning after hearing those gunshots, Huszinski, who co-owns Rise and Brew Coffee Co. in downtown Kirklin, heard “90%” of customers talking, gossiping, and asking questions about the shooting. 

“It’s scary,” Hudzinski said.”A simple traffic stop. It’s scary, especially for the people that work for our town and all around in the area.”

Kirklin is a small town of about 700, where crime isn’t much of a concern for locals. The town marshals are part-time, and neighbors say they’re usually focused on traffic enforcement. 

“Normally, this town is very quiet. It’s safe. I have no hesitation walking the streets,” said Lynn Oliver, a Kirklin resident. “My heart goes out to everybody who was involved in this situation. And I’ll keep them all in my prayers.”

According to Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Sommer, investigators met at 11 a.m. Wednesday to discuss next steps before handing the case off for possible charges. Sommer did not have a timeline on how long that could take and investigators have not said whether any passengers other than the shooter could face charges. 

“What are people thinking? Why would you draw on an officer? Why would you put yourself and police in jeopardy?” asked Robert Petre, a Michigantown resident. 

ISP and officials with the town of Kirklin declined News 8’s requests for an interview. 

“Right now, I’m focused on the healing of my deputy marshals,” Kirklin Marshal Brendon Bright said in a statement. 

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Bill Alexander says this volatile traffic stop is a prime example of the increasing risk to officers on the job. There have been at least 285 officers shot in the line of duty, this year, through the end of October, according to Fraternal Order of Police data. 

“The conditions out on the street have become more dangerous,” Alexander said. “Everyone who is lucky enough to call this great country home [should] be mindful of those very real sacrifices made by men and women in uniform.”

While Alexander said the total number of officers shot has trended upwards over the last decade, the number of line-of-duty fatalities has significantly dropped this year. Alexander credits to improved safety gear and medical practices. 

Neither the suspect or the officers involved in the Clinton County shooting have been identified. Hudzinski says once all of the officers involved are fully recovered, the next coffee is on the house.

“We’re all thinking about them,” Hudzinski said. “I mean, they’re part of the community.”

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