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Nicholus Wayne Woolums

Gender : Male

Age : 25

Race : White

Date : 05/15/2024

Location : Tillotson and McGalliard

City : Muncie

County : Henry

State : Indiana

Agency : Henry County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Tanner Strelecky

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On May 15, 2024, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Henry County Sheriff's Deputy Tanner Strelecky initiated a traffic stop on State Road 3 near County Road 650 N in Henry County, Indiana, alleging the driver of a silver 2013 Dodge Dart, later identified as 28-year-old Zacery Antrim of Van Buren, Indiana, was "suspected of impairment." Antrim did not stop, leading Deputy Strelecky to escalate the situation into a high-speed pursuit.
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The chase extended approximately 20 miles into Delaware County, reaching speeds between 70 and 100 mph through Muncie's south side, downtown, and northwest side, before turning east on McGalliard Road. At the intersection of McGalliard Road and Tillotson Avenue, the pursuit continued through a red light, resulting in a significant collision with a white Jeep.
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Nicholus (Nick) Wayne Woolums, a 25-year-old passenger in Antrim's vehicle, was pronounced dead at the crash site. Both Antrim and the Jeep's driver sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital.
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About Nicholus Wayne Woolums:
Born on December 3, 1998, in Muncie, Indiana, Nick was remembered as outgoing, kind, and caring. He was a devoted Indianapolis Colts fan and cherished time with his family, especially his father, whom he considered his best friend. Nick was known for his selflessness, always ensuring others were taken care of before himself.
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Officer Background:
Rookie Deputy Tanner Strelecky was hired in July 2023 without prior law enforcement experience and had not graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy at the time of the incident. He had completed 588 hours of departmental and field training but initiated the pursuit without apparent supervisory oversight.Background of Deputy Tanner Strelecky.
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Overview:
Deputy Tanner Strelecky was hired by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in July 2023 without prior law enforcement experience. Indiana law requires new officers to complete a 40-hour pre-basic training course before being hired. After joining the force, Strelecky underwent 588 hours of departmental and field training, concluding in October 2023. At the time of the April 2024 incident, he had not yet attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for comprehensive training.

In April 2024, Deputy Strelecky handled the pursuit leading to the death of 25-year-old Nicholus Wayne Woolums. The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m., when Strelecky had just completed his shift but was still in uniform and driving his assigned vehicle. It is still unclear whether he was considered to be on duty at the time he attempted to make a stop based on a still unsubstantiated DUI allegation.
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Lawsuit:
In September 2024, a civil rights lawsuit was filed against Deputy Strelecky, Henry County Sheriff John Sproles, the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, and Henry County. The case, titled Woolums v. Henry County Sheriff's Department et al, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The plaintiff, James David Woolums, is seeking damages related to the fatal incident.
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Ongoing Investigations:
The Indiana State Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and crash. The Delaware County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the findings to determine whether charges will be filed against pursuit driver Antrim or pursuer Deputy Strelecky. Notably, no charges have been filed against Antrim to date, suggesting potential inability to proceed due to resulting scrutiny of the deputy's actions.
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LAST UPDATE: 12/07/2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.parsonmortuary.com/obituary/Nicholus-Woolums
https://fox59.com/indiana-news/deadly-police-chase-involving-rookie-henry-county-sheriffs-deputy-was-unsupervised
https://www.yahoo.com/news/prosecutor-charges-considered-against-deputy-104927217.html