The Jasper County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Office released dashcam footage on Thursday showing last month’s traffic stop where a man pardoned by President Donald Trump was shot and killed during an altercation with a deputy.
Matthew Huttle of Hobart, Indiana — who benefited from Trump’s sweeping January 6 Capitol riot pardons — allegedly resisted arrest after being pulled over on January 26. Huttle, who was stopped on State Road 14 for driving 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, told the deputy, “I just want to let you know that I’m a January 6th defendant,” according to body cam footage, the Indianapolis Star reported.
“What do you mean?” the deputy asked.
“I stormed the Capitol. I’m waiting on my pardon,” Huttle replied, adding, “Yeah, and I can’t really afford to get into any trouble right now.”
He then admitted to driving without a license. Informed that his felony offense requires that the officer transport him to jail, Huttle said, “I can’t do it. No, I can’t go to jail for this, sir.”
The bodycam footage appears to have been taken down by YouTube. Dashcam footage of the incident is still on the platform and shows Huttle sprinting to the driver’s side door and reaching into the vehicle.
The Clinton County, Indiana, Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the case and said that the deputy chased Huttle before a struggle ensued. After jumping into the car, Huttle allegedly raised a gun and said, “I’m shooting myself.” The prosecutor’s office concluded that the officer “was legally justified in using deadly force to defend himself.”
“Believing that Huttle posed a deadly threat, the Deputy fired multiple shots, striking Huttle. The Deputy then retreated to his vehicle and awaited backup. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but Huttle was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the prosecutor’s office said.
During the traffic stop, Huttle “was found to be a Habitual Traffic Violator,” a felony under Indiana law, according to the prosecutor’s office. The 42-year-old Indiana man previously spent time behind bars for a driving offense.
Shortly after being released from jail for his previous offense, Huttle attended the rally at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. He later pled guilty to entering a restricted building after being inside the U.S. Capitol for 16 minutes. Huttle’s defense attorney, Andrew Hemmer, said that his client was “not a true believer in any political cause” but was only at the Trump rally that day “because he thought it would be a historic moment and he had nothing better to do after getting out of jail.”