In a concerning development, an Indiana police officer found himself on the wrong side of the law Wednesday night, facing charges of domestic battery. Ryan Miller, aged 32, was taken into custody following allegations that he assaulted a pregnant family member, as reported by the Times of Northwest Indiana.

Notably, Miller is not just any officer; he is a corporal with the Chesterton Police Department and had recently been recognized for his exemplary service. Just last month, he was awarded for his quick response in providing first aid to a man who had suffered a severe arm injury.

The arrest took place in Portage, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding story. Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson confirmed Miller’s arrest but revealed that the officer had already been on administrative leave since early December. However, Richardson refrained from disclosing the reasons for this leave, citing privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

When questioned about Miller’s recent arrest, Chief Richardson admitted he had not yet reviewed the Portage police reports and therefore could not provide further comments on the situation. Meanwhile, Chesterton Town Council President Erin Collins addressed the incident in a statement shared on the town’s official Facebook page, though the details of her comments were not included in the report.

As for Miller’s arrest, Richardson said he had not yet read reports from Portage police and couldn’t comment.

Chesterton Town Council President Erin Collins did comment in a statement posted on the town’s Facebook page.

“The Town of Chesterton has been made aware of the arrest of a Chesterton Police Department officer on allegations of domestic battery,” she wrote. “Allegations of this nature are taken extremely seriously. Conduct that endangers others or undermines public trust is not tolerated by the Town of Chesterton or the Chesterton Police Department.”

Collins said the allegations would be thoroughly investigated by internal and judicial processes, including the town’s Board of Police Commissioners.

“At the time of the arrest, the officer was on administrative leave, and the officer will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, she wrote, adding that there would be no further comment from the town.

The identity of the pregnant family member is not yet known.

A lawsuit filed in October accuses Miller of negligence when he rear-ended a motorcyclist in his police cruiser in September 2024. The town is also named a defendant in the lawsuit, the Times said.