County police identify 69-year-old male gunshot fatality in South Bend Police shooting

SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Police Department has identified the 69-year-old white man who died after being shot by a South Bend Police officer on June 11, promising to release specific information and evidence when its investigation is complete.

County police reported that South Bend officers were responding to the area near the East Race and LaSalle Street on the report of a man threatening someone with a knife. The caller reported that the man chased him with a knife and then stabbed his vehicle.

The suspect, John Charles Neiswender of South Bend, was located and was unsuccessfully tased by one South Bend Police officer in the attempt to disarm and detain him. County police said their preliminary view in the investigation is that "a short time" after the tasing attempt, a second officer fired his handgun, striking the suspect.

Neiswender was transported to a hospital for emergency medical treatment and died at the hospital.

County investigators have located and notified Neiswender's family of his death.

The St. Joseph County Police Department's Sheriff Bill Redman said St. Joseph County and Mishawaka investigators are continuing to gather all evidence, including autopsy, toxicology and ballistics test results and reports. They are working on finalizing their own reports for the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s office.

Redman said that though he understands the public desire for information and answers, specific details will not be released until the investigation is complete.

"To maintain the integrity of the investigation and ensure only fully accurate and proven facts are publicly released, we will not release specific details about the actions of the officers or the suspect until the investigation is complete and has been reviewed by the County Prosecutor’s Office," Redman said in a press release.

All legal and releasable evidence, including the audio of dispatch calls, police radio traffic and all bodycamera and other video will be released at an appropriate time following the investigation, Redman said.

He did not provide a timeline for how long the investigation process will take.

Following the release Wednesday afternoon of Neiswender's name, South Bend Mayor James Mueller released a statement in which he offered his condolences to the deceased's family as well as his "thoughts and prayers" to the first responders and their families and other city employees and residents who experienced the event.

"We are committed to a full, transparent investigation and any needed improvements to our emergency response going forward, and I ask for the community’s patience as we wait for more information from Sheriff Redman and his investigation team," Mueller said in his statement.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: County police identify 69-year-old male gunshot fatality in South Bend Police shooting