Charges formally filed against Gary cop for battery

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:49AM

Gary Patrolman Terry Peck was formally charged Thursday with misdemeanor battery for allegedly assaulting a customer at the St. John VFW last week.

Peck, 36, of Wheatfield, a six-year veteran of the Gary Police Department, faces up to one year in jail if convicted of the charges.

Witnesses told St. John police Peck argued with a 71-year-old man inside the lodge after the customer learned a favorite bartender wasn’t working there anymore.

Peck, the Post 717 commander, asked the man to leave and they argued. Peck grabbed the man by the collar and pushed him down a flight of stairs, then pushed him again outside, the probable cause affidavit states.

The victim reported pain, but no serious injuries.

Defense attorney Cathy Lake, who is representing Peck, said police should have interviewed her client and another witness before seeking criminal charges.

“I was really disappointed,” Lake said. The three men who provided statements to police are all friends of the victim, she said. Another man was also present who saw what happened outside and could offer a different version of the events.

A summons has been issued for Peck, who is on sick leave from his police duties. He has been off work since Dec. 31, when he and another officer critically wounded a robbery suspect.

Peck is facing a 60-day unpaid suspension for violating the department’s sick leave policy.

He has been involved in three on-duty shootings since he was hired. Peck would lose his job if convicted of the charges as filed, because state law prohibits officers with felony or Class A misdemeanor convictions from being employed.

Reach Lori Caldwell at 648-3258.