A former Muncie police officer who crashed his car while joyriding with Ball State University students is on probation following a guilty plea in March, the Muncie City Clerk's Office said Tuesday.
Jason Lyons, who had worked for the MPD for six years, pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving and interference with reporting a crime, according to the clerk's office.
Lyons received a one-year suspended sentence and one-year unsupervised probation. Lyons was also fined $260.50 for court expenses, according to the clerk's office.
Joe Winkle, former chief of the MPD, said in an August interview that three female Ball State students asked Lyons if he could give them a ride home.
The students began encouraging Lyons to drive faster, Winkle said. He began driving at speeds exceeding 60 mph, at which point he lost control on a curve near LaFollette Complex and his squad car hit a light pole, Winkle said.
Lyons initially said there was no one else in the vehicle at the time of the accident and that he caused his accident by spilling his beverage, Winkle said, but he later confessed that he had lied.
One of the students was taken to the hospital and treated for head lacerations, and the accident caused about $10,000 in damage, mainly to the vehicle.
The Muncie Police Department suspended Lyons for 10 days after the incident, Winkle said in a September interview, and he resigned from the force at the end of his suspension.
Terry Winters, former deputy chief of the MPD, said in a September interview that Lyons was originally rejected after applying to be on the police force.
The department's psychologist recommended Lyons not be hired, Winters had said, but his attorney sent him to another psychologist who approved him. The MPD hired Lyons to settle the lawsuit, Winters said.
Lyons initially said there was no one else in the vehicle at the time of the accident and that he caused his accident by spilling his beverage, Winkle said, but he later confessed that he had lied.
One of the students was taken to the hospital and treated for head lacerations, and the accident caused about $10,000 in damage, mainly to the vehicle.
The Muncie Police Department suspended Lyons for 10 days after the incident, Winkle said in a September interview, and he resigned from the force at the end of his suspension.
Terry Winters, former deputy chief of the MPD, said in a September interview that Lyons was originally rejected after applying to be on the police force.
The department's psychologist recommended Lyons not be hired, Winters had said, but his attorney sent him to another psychologist who approved him. The MPD hired Lyons to settle the lawsuit, Winters said.
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