Almost a year after the arrest of Jay Snyder, the City of Terre Haute and the Terre Haute Police Department still have not released the body camera footage from the incident, despite repeated requests and a ruling from Indiana’s Public Access Counselor.

On July 11th, 2024 Terre Haute Vice News filed a request for the body camera footage from the arrest of Jay Snyder. After two months of receiving no response we were informed that the individual responsible for processing requests was no longer working in that position.

The request was then refiled on September 17th, 2024 and received a response stating that it was under review and that we would be informed of a decision “soon.” After several months and several requests for updates, THVN filed a complaint with the Indiana Public Access Counselor.

In response to an email sent on January 27th, 2025 informing the mayor and city attorney Michael Wright that a complaint had been filed, Libby Lewis paralegal for the city of Terre Haute responded that, “The THPD are doing these in house.  I will follow up with THPD.”

After another month THVN sent an email on March 27th, 2025 to the Terre Haute city council informing them of the city’s refusal to comply with our public records request. In response, two city council members responded that they would look into the situation.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by THVN, Snyder was arrested at the Woodridge Motel on June 28th. Officers reported that pepper spray and a THPD K9 were initially used to apprehend the suspect, but after continued resistance they repeatedly struck him in the face and hit him in the legs with batons to force compliance.

Delays in the release of body camera footage has become an issue across the state. Few municipalities have created policies governing the distribution of footage which has left the decision making process primarily in the hands of law enforcement agencies who control the recordings.