First Sergeant Marvin Edward Walts

Marvin Edward Walts

First Sergeant Marvin Walts was shot and killed during a traffic stop of a bank robbery suspect near the intersection of State Road 131 and State Road 62 in Clark County.

While on his day off, First Sergeant Walts had received a broadcast of an armed robbery at the Sellersburg State Bank at 1:15 pm. After stopping a vehicle about 45 minutes later, it was confirmed the driver's jacket matched the description given of the bank robbery suspect. As First Sergeant Walts returned to the stopped vehicle, the suspect shot him in the forehead, killing him instantly. A minister who was riding with the trooper was then fired upon before being able to return fire himself and killed the suspect with the trooper's shotgun.

First Sergeant Walts, who was planning to retire in six months, had served with the Indiana State Police for 19½ years and was assigned to the Charlestown post. He was survived by his wife and teenage son.