A patrol officer who has been on unpaid leave while charged with multiple felonies could return to work.
Demonte Yanders, 31, reached a plea deal with the Lake County prosecutor last week that allowed him to plead guilty to a Class B misdemeanor battery, while two counts of felony criminal confinement, strangulation and another misdemeanor battery charge were dismissed.
In Indiana, a conviction for any criminal charge higher that a B misdemeanor requires automatic termination.
Yanders could still be fired, however. The police administration filed a verified complaint in 2013, alleging his actions, including his arrest, violate rules that could result in termination.
Yanders was charged in October 2013 with assaulting his then-girlfriend. Police arrived at their Woodland Village apartment and saw Yanders on top of her, struggling as she cried. The woman, however, was uncooperative with investigators and prosecutors and was threatened with arrest if she ignored a court subpoena last year.
In a similar case involving Yanders and the woman earlier in 2013, prosecutors sought to dismiss charges when she did not want to pursue the case.
When the charges were filed, Yanders was limited to duties that did not include his police powers. Early in 2014, a new city ordinance was approved that allowed the police administration to remove officers charged with felonies from the payroll.
Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Decanter said Monday Chief Larry McKinley intends to pursue termination for Yanders through the police commission process.
Yanders was hired in September 2009, with a group of recruits selected by then Mayor Rudy Clay. A city ordinance sought by Clay allowed the department to hire any recruits from the eligibility list, instead of hiring those who scored highest on a battery of tests. Clay chose Gary residents exclusively over those with high scores.