On a tragic night in Greenwood, Indiana, the life of 49-year-old Monica Vaught came to a devastating end. Of Asian descent, Vaught was a woman remembered by her family as a loving mother and a brilliant mind, a high school valedictorian and a university salutatorian who had taught English in Taiwan. However, she also harbored private struggles with mental health and substance abuse that tragically culminated in a fatal encounter with law enforcement on March 29, 2022.
The incident began
when police responded to a report of a possible drunk driver. Officers located Vaught driving southbound in the northbound lanes and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. A chase ensued through downtown Greenwood, during which Vaught struck a utility pole but continued to flee. The pursuit ended in the parking lot of the Greenwood Police Department, where the situation escalated dramatically.
In the confines of the police department parking lot, officers attempted to block Vaught's vehicle. She continued to maneuver her car, striking a patrol vehicle. Despite the deployment of spike strips, Vaught accelerated towards officers. In response, four officers—Ben Louzon, Elijah Allen, Zane Hennig, and Sgt. Brandon Cox—fired their weapons, striking Vaught. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A subsequent toxicology report revealed high levels of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and cannabinoids in her system.
Following an internal investigation, the Greenwood Police Department determined the officers' actions were lawful, and the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office came to the same conclusion, resulting in the officers returning to duty. However, Vaught's family sought their own form of justice, filing a tort claim and later a lawsuit against the city of Greenwood and the officers involved, alleging the use of excessive and unreasonable force. The lawsuit, which claimed Vaught's civil rights were violated, was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount. In the wake of their loss, Vaught's children shared their mother's story, hoping to shed light on the stigmas surrounding mental health and to encourage others battling similar demons to seek help.
