Black Teen in Indianapolis Police Brutality Case Released on Home Detention

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Black teen at the center of a high-profile police brutality investigation in 2010 was placed on house arrest Monday pending trial on a gun charge.

Brandon Johnson, 16, and his two older brothers, Miketavious Jackson, 19, and Terrell Jackson, 18, were arrested Wednesday night at the family's home in the 7700 block of Mountain Stream Way, where police said they found a gun, bullets, drugs and gang paraphernalia. 

Johnson was arrested on preliminarily charges of criminal gang activity and dangerous possession of a firearm but was only formally charged with the latter Monday, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

His attorney said the firearm charge is based on a cell phone picture of a gun, not an actual gun, found in Johnson's home. Johnson was at the center of a firestorm of racial tension in Indianapolis last summer when he suffered a swollen eye, bruises to his face and chipped teeth in an encounter with police who were arresting his brother.

The case sparked allegations of police brutality and led to internal investigations and a federal probe that is still ongoing.

"We think these charges are pretty excessive," said attorney Monish Patel. "They are basing it on a picture of what they believe to be a gun. They got that picture from a warrant for another individual, so we are going to fight this to the end."

As a condition of his release, Johnson, who is being charged as an adult, must wear an ankle bracelet and can only leave home to go to school.

Johnson's mother, Shantay Chandler, said she was terrified when police came into her home to arrest her sons.

"I was scared for my life and my children. They came in with guns drawn and they pointed it at my head," she said. "Brandon is going home now. We dealing with that."

Johnson was at the center of a firestorm of racial tension in Indianapolis last summer when he suffered a swollen eye, bruises to his face and chipped teeth in an encounter with police who were arresting his brother.

The case sparked allegations of police brutality and led to internal investigations and a federal probe that is still ongoing.

Officer Jerry Piland, who was accused of using excessive force in that incident, was later exonerated by a merit board.

The Rev. Al Sharpton came to Indianapolis twice to protest officials' handling of the Johnson incident, and Johnson's family members vowed that the case "isn't over."