This brief is adapted from notes taken by Documenters Rachael Casey and Breone Dupree, who covered the June Citizens Police Complaint Board meeting. 📝 Read more about what happened.
The Citizens’ Police Complaint Board recently reviewed a complaint filed by Matea Glover against Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer Kenneth Pierce. In the complaint, Glover alleges Pierce pulled her hair, tearing several braids from her scalp and causing bald spots and physical pain in March 2024.
Glover said she was trying to get a new room at Days Inn & Suites on Payne Branch Road after finding the bathroom smeared with fecal matter. Pierce said he did not mean to pull her hair as he attempted to grab her hoodie and didn’t realize he had done so until he saw braids on the ground.
The board reviewed Glover’s complaint on June 9.
Despite an internal affairs investigation recommendation that Pierce be exonerated for reasonable force, the board disagreed. They also found the body cam footage differed from the police report. One board member said “the [report] of the case was just like, almost falsified, in my opinion.”
What happened?
According to the report, Pierce responded to a call at the Days Inn & Suites and saw Glover in an argument with a hotel employee. Glover and Pierce spoke outside, then returned inside, where hotel staff asked Glover to leave, but she didn’t and was arrested by Pierce.
However, body camera footage showed Glover was outside when Pierce began to use force on her.
“There seemed to be an escalation there that didn’t seem needed,” one board member said.
The report also excluded Glover’s reason for being at the front desk. The hotel staff refused to accommodate her request for a different room or give her a refund, then called the police on her.
The board discussed introducing a charge of conduct unbecoming of an officer against Pierce, saying he mocked and imitated Glover and was demeaning toward her. No official decision was made about the potential new charge.
In addition, board members spoke about the possibility of financially compensating Glover for the money she spent on the hotel room.
Finally, the board discussed having board President Kenneth Riggins meet with IMPD Chief Chris Bailey to review findings from this case. No official resolution was reached.
What’s next?
The next Citizens’ Police Complaint Board meeting is 6 p.m., July 14. The location will be announced later. For more information on complaint board meetings, visit its website.
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Emily Worrell is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor and Indy Documenters assistant editor. You can reach her at emily.worrell@mirrorindy.org.
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