Jury finds fifth ex-Muncie officer not guilty of false reporting

MUNCIE — It took three times, but a federal jury finally reached a verdict.

Former Muncie police officer Corey Posey is not guilty of false reporting, a federal jury announced Wednesday evening.

Posey had faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

He is the fifth former Muncie police officer in the federal government’s case against current and former Muncie Police officers — for police brutality or attempting to cover it up.

Posey is the only ex-Muncie officer not convicted.

The remaining four former Muncie police officers have already pleaded guilty to charges. They are either in prison or have already served their prison time.

• Chase Winkle -incarcerated at Memphis FCI in Memphis, TN; projected release date is 12/22/2031
• Sgt. Joseph Krejsa - incarcerated at Gilmer FCI in West Virginia ; projected release date is 8/13/2024
• Dalton Kurtz - previously incarcerated at Beckley FCI in West Virginia; released on 2/1/2024
• Jeremy Gibson - incarcerated at Elkton FCI in Ohio; projected release date is 11/23/2024

WRTV Investigates received the following statement from Posey in reponse to the not guilty verdict.

My family, my supporters, and I are still so overwhelmed that this nightmare is finally over. I give all glory to God for His goodness and for helping my truth to be heard directly by the jury who saw that I did not do what I’ve been accused of for over 3 years now. I have had probably over 1000 people reach out to tell me that they’re praying for this outcome recently and I have no way I can ever repay everyone for their love, support, and prayers. I look forward to finally moving on to a new chapter of peace for me and my children now that I have finally been acquitted from something I never should have been charged with. This outcome also could not have reached this point without my wonderful attorneys, Mike Gaerte and Chelsea Granville Reed. They fought tirelessly with and for me and refused to give up until my final Not Guilty.”

Muncie Police Chief Nathan Sloan said in a statement that the department is "relieved" the matter has "finally been resolved and that justice was served."

"Special thanks to the jurors on this and all cases who work diligently to find the truth," read Sloan's statement. "We consider the matters of past administrations to be closed as the Muncie Police Department is a fundamentally different organization focusing on the needs of Muncie and Delaware County."

In January 2024, a federal judge rejected a plea deal for Corey Posey, even though the prosecution and defense both agreed on it.

The plea agreement had called for Posey to receive a suspended year on probation, including three months home confinement.

The federal judge rejected the sentence saying that probation was not strict enough for a law enforcement officer’s false reporting.

The allegations against Corey Posey stem from a 2018 incident in which Posey is accused of writing a report that implied suspect Lonnie Gannom failed to comply with commands.

Posey omitted from the report that his colleague, Officer Chase Winkle, struck Gannom’s head and neck with his knee and also omitted that Winkle caused Gannom’s injuries, the indictment read.

Muncie Police Department/Photo Provided

Gannom suffered facial fractures as a result of Winkle’s excessive force.

During his last trial, Posey testified in his own defense and said he felt Gannom was not cooperating with his commands during the arrest and at one point pulled his arm away.

Posey said during the incident and while reviewing body camera footage of the incident, Posey was focused on his own actions not other officers, including Winkle.

Posey said that when he wrote the report, Posey knew he didn’t cause Gannom’s injuries. There were several officers at the scene but Posey didn’t know who caused the injuries, Posey testified.

Posey’s attorneys have pointed out that Posey was a rookie at the time, still in training, and that Sgt. Joseph Krejsa was expected to do an investigation of the Gannom incident.

Posey’s attorney also emphasized Posey wrote in his report that Gannom suffered “possible facial fractures” and had to be transported to the hospital.

Taxpayers paid Posey’s salary for more than two years while the case was pending.

WRTV

He remained on paid administrative leave from April 14, 2021, until August 3, 2023 when the Muncie Police Merit Commission placed him on unpaid leave.

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Posey resigned from the Muncie Police Department in October 2023.

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Sgt. Brent Brown, a retired Muncie Police physical tactics instructor, testified that officers are trained to document use of force by themselves and other officers.

Corey Posey has another criminal case pending.

He was arrested for drunk driving after Kokomo police said he rear-ended another vehicle on US 31, and a certified chemical test revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .087, which is above the legal limit of .08.

Howard County prosecutors filed formal charges against Posey for:

• Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person
• Oper Veh w/ Alcohol Concentration Equivalent to at Least .08 but Less than .15

His trial in that criminal case is scheduled for September 27.