LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A grand jury has decided a Kentucky elected official "intentionally caused serious physical injury" when he shot a suspected shoplifter.

The grand jury indicted David Whitlock on assault and wanton endangerment charges.

It comes after a shooting at the Walmart off Greenbelt Highway near Shively in November. Whitlock tried to stop Tammie Ortiz, who was suspected of shoplifting. When she got in her car and tried to drive away, Whitlock shot her in the arm and the face.

Ortiz claims she thought she was being mugged.  WDRB News spoke with Whitlock by phone on Friday, but he referred us to his attorney.  Louisville attorney Brian Butler joined Whitlock's defense team on Thursday.  

"Anytime you're charged with a criminal offense...I mean that's a really bad day in someone's life and obviously it takes a toll on him and his family, but he is committed to going forward with the process and defend himself," says Brian Butler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

And this criminal indictment is not the only thing Whitlock will have to defend himself against.

WDRB's Stephan Johnson spoke with Tammie Ortiz's attorney Friday by phone.  He says they will now move forward with a civil lawsuit against Whitlock, Walmart, and two other entities in the next ten days.  Meanwhile, Whitlock is still serving as constable.  He is due in court on the charges next month.

Copyright 2012 WDRB News.  All rights reserved.

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