FORT WAYNE, Ind. Allen County Sheriff Troy Hershberger has filed additional alleged misconduct evidence in his effort to dismiss Corporal Ben Fries from the Allen County Sheriff's Department.
The updated petition now alleges five counts of misconduct against Fries.
The original petition, filed last week, cited comments Fries allegedly made that made light of police shootings. The newly filed evidence stems from text messages provided to authorities by a former employee of Fries Consulting, Fries' private business.
According to the petition, the messages included alleged statements about anger, violence and killing. The filing states that sheriff's department investigators forensically verified the messages came from Fries' phone.
Hershberger is asking the Allen County Merit Board to dismiss Fries, describing the alleged behavior as unbecoming and immoral conduct.
Fries was involved in a 2024 Huntertown standoff in which he shot and killed 51-year-old Jeffrey Stoppenhagen. The Allen County Prosecutor's Office previously determined Fries' use of force in that incident was justified.
The newly added allegations are not connected to the 2024 shooting.
The updated petition requests a public hearing within 30 days. The allegations have not been proven, and Fries is entitled to due process through the merit board proceedings.