Indy Officer Fined For Hitting Paraplegic At Strip Club

INDIANAPOLIS -- A judge has ordered an Indianapolis police detective who pleaded guilty to punching a paraplegic man at a local strip club to pay a $250 fine, Indianapolis television station WRTV reported.

Frank Hittel, who had his jail sentence of 180 days suspended, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Police said Hittel was off duty when he punched Michael Farmer, 22, who was in a wheelchair, at Brad's Brass Flamingo in October.

According to a police report, witnesses said the altercation started when one of Farmer's friends said, "I'm not sitting here drinking with a bunch of cops," in reference to people at Hittel's table.

Hittel then allegedly walked up to Farmer and said, "You don't want none of this," before striking him in the face, witnesses said.

Shortly after the incident, Hittel said through a police spokesman that he made a mistake.