IMPD recruit officer is fired after tussle over $30

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A recruit officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has been fired after his arrest on charges stemming from a dispute over a $30 debt. 

Moussa Niang, 24, was arrested Monday on charges of strangulation, pointing a firearm and battery resulting in bodily injury, the department announced in a news release. Niang was off duty at the time of the Dec. 31 incident, according to the department. IMPD Chief Bryan Roach has since terminated Niang's employment.

A woman told police she borrowed about $30 from Niang around mid-December and on Dec. 31 awoke to 20 missed calls from Niang, according to court documents detailing the investigation. The woman told police she initially ignored the calls but eventually received a text from Niang saying, "Where's my effing money?" 

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Niang arrived at the woman's apartment to collect the money, according to court documents, and got into a physical altercation with the woman's boyfriend, who gave him part of the $30 he was owed. Witnesses told police Niang tried to step around the man and get into the apartment building, at which point the man pulled Niang away by his sweatshirt.

The two began fighting, according to court documents, ending with Niang pushing the man against a wall, choking him and pointing a gun to his face. 

Witnesses said Niang calmed down when he eventually received the full $30, telling the man to "watch his back" before Niang drove away. 

In a Jan. 5 interview with IMPD investigators, Niang gave his version of events. He said he tried several times to arrange a time to retrieve the money he lent the woman. He said he planned to use that money to take to the gun range so he could practice shooting his 9mm Jimenez handgun. 

When Niang arrived at the apartment, the woman's boyfriend gave him a $20 bill, he said. Niang said that when he tried to get around the man to step into the apartment building and out of the cold, the man pulled on his hooded sweatshirt, at which point the two began physically fighting. 

Niang admitted to punching the man so hard he "almost knocked him out," according to court documents. He also admitted to choking the man against the wall. 

"(Niang) said they were both punching at this point," according to a probable cause affidavit, "but he was choking the boyfriend and his eyes were getting red."

Niang said his gun fell into the snow during the tussle. 

The gun involved was not IMPD-issued, according to the prosecutor's office.  

An initial court hearing for Niang has not yet been set. 

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.

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