By: Caden Hurley

U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon has dismissed former Tippecanoe County Deputy Randy Martin’s federal lawsuit in favor of the defense. The case has been dismissed based on Martin’s singular federal claim; according to Simon the remaining eight charges can be refiled in state courts.

The remaining claims include fraudulent inducement to resign, conspiracy, corruption, state law abuse of process, breach of contract, defamation, interfering with Martin’s business relationships and invasion of privacy. Martin filed the claims in August of 2022 against Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith, Prosecutor Pat Harrington, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jason Biss, and county commissioners.  

Martin, who had been honored under a previous administration for rescuing an infant from a burning vehicle, alleges that Sheriff Goldsmith targeted him due to his refusal to participate in the Sheriff’s campaign for reelection in 2018.

Shortly after the election Martin had also filed complaints against other members of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department for campaigning for Goldsmith while on duty and in uniform, which violates state law and departmental policy.

Martin resigned from the Sheriff’s Department in late 2020 after the Sheriff opened an investigation into his conduct during a traffic stop involving Krista Philips and Austin Switzer in October 2020. Evidence shows the traffic stop took place in a McDonald’s parking lot at 510 Sagamore Parkway North in Lafayette. 

Documentation filed after the incident reported that Phillips and Switzer were disorderly in their conduct and assumed a defensive stance upon being questioned by Martin. Body camera footage shows that Philips and Switzer approached the officer in the parking lot multiple times.

After refusing Martin’s orders, both Philips and Switzer were pepper sprayed. Martin then demanded they enter their vehicle, and Phillips began shoving Switzer into the vehicle. In response, Martin used his Taser on Phillips, and when Switzer turned towards the officer, he was also tasered. 

After reviewing the reports of the event and the body camera footage, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into Martin’s use of force and alleged that he miss-documented the encounter. Sheriff Goldsmith also scheduled a merit board meeting and planned to present evidence that supported Martin’s termination. 

Hours before the merit board meeting would be held addressing the October 2020 traffic stop, Martin signed a separation agreement. Martin then filed his claims against Goldsmith, Harrington, and Biss due to an alleged breach of his separation agreement as they released information about Martin that has prevented him from finding full-time jobs at other police departments and has prevented him from finding comparable gainful employment.