Matthew Huttle, a 42-year-old Indiana resident, was shot dead by police during a routine traffic stop just days after receiving a pardon from former President Donald Trump for his participation in the January 6 Capitol riot. According to an Indiana State Police (ISP) statement, Huttle allegedly resisted arrest and got into an "altercation" with an officer who pulled him over on Sunday.
The circumstances surrounding the traffic stop and what Huttle was arrested for remain unclear, though police reported that he had a firearm in his possession at the time. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson stated that he requested transparency through the Indiana State Police's inquiry into the officer-involved shooting.
Huttle was among the nearly 1,600 individuals who received pardons for their roles in the January 6 insurrection last week. During the Capitol riot, where Trump supporters stormed the building to overturn the election results, Huttle spent approximately ten minutes inside the Capitol and ultimately received a six-month prison sentence through a plea deal. He was released from custody in July 2024.
Despite the fallout from his actions, Huttle’s uncle, Dale Huttle, expressed pride in participating in the riot, stating, "I'm not ashamed of being there. It was our duty as patriots." The incident is not isolated; another individual from the January 6 group, Daniel Bell from Florida, faced rearrest on federal gun-related charges recently.
Trump's pardons have come under scrutiny, particularly from critics who argue that it was a mistake to absolve individuals connected to violent actions against law enforcement during the Capitol siege. Prominent figures like Senator Lindsey Graham have voiced concern, describing it as problematic to pardon those who "went into the Capitol and beat up a police officer violently."
