SEYMOUR — Indiana State Police have identified the man who was shot to death following a shoplifting report Nov. 1 at a Walmart in Seymour.
Jason S. Cline, 43, Beech Grove, died in the incident, state police said.
The incident began at approximately 8:30 p.m. when two officers with the Seymour Police Department responded to a report of a theft at the Walmart at 1600 E. Tipton St. on the east side of Seymour. Upon arriving in the area, the officers located the Cline near the Speedway Gas Station in possession of a shopping cart containing suspected stolen property. As they approached Cline, he abandoned the cart and fled westbound and eventually northbound across Tipton Street. Cline entered a deep ditch in front of the Taco Bell near Tipton Street at Burkhart Boulevard.
The evidence indicates that the officers caught up to Cline and attempted to take him into custody. While attempting to place him into handcuffs, he continued to resist arrest. Cline produced a handgun and pointed it at the officers. Both officers fired their handguns, striking him. The handgun in Cline’s possession was found to be loaded and had been reported as stolen. The officers then provided medical attention to Cline before he was transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour. Cline died as a result of the injuries he received.
The Seymour Police Department requested that detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post respond to conduct the investigation into the incident.
On Tuesday, an autopsy was completed on Cline and his identity was confirmed. Toxicology results are pending.
The investigation is ongoing at this time.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
According to Seymour Police Chief Bryant Lucas, both officers were placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing, per department protocol.
It should be noted that Cline also previously went by the names Jason Tabor and Jason Tabor Cline.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
