Fleeing man shot, killed by police

OSCEOLA, Ind. – An autopsy found that a gunshot wound to the chest killed an Osceola man who authorities say died while trying to flee an off-duty police officer.
Eugene Nusbaum, 43, was found dead in his pickup truck late Monday after it struck a tree about a quarter mile from where a Mishawaka police detective confronted him in a used car lot, said Catherine Wilson, a St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office spokeswoman.
Investigators believe Nusbaum was trying to cut a catalytic converter from a minivan when Detective Jeremy Tyler stopped after seeing suspicious activity at the lot in the town a few miles east of South Bend, Wilson said.
Tyler identified himself repeatedly and ordered Nusbaum to stop, Wilson said. Tyler reached into the pickup and tried to shift the vehicle out of gear, but Nusbaum took off, dragging Tyler, who drew his handgun and fired shots, Wilson said.
An autopsy on Nusbaum found he bled to death after being shot in the chest, St. Joseph County Deputy Coroner Randy Magdalinski said. He had also been grazed by another shot in the ear.
County jail records show Nusbaum was booked into the jail 12 times between 1995 and 2005, the last time on a preliminary charge of theft.
But his ex-wife and girlfriend said Tuesday he had cleaned up his life, and they questioned the police account of what happened. They also said he wasn’t desperate for money.
Kimberly Cole, Nusbaum’s girlfriend of nine years, questioned how the officer could have shot Nusbaum in the chest while being dragged by the pickup truck.
“What’s wrong with that picture?” she said. “It’s not right.”