Mentone Marshal Back On Job

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Staff Report-

MENTONE - Jim Eads, Mentone town marshal, is back on the job as of Saturday.

"I didn't expect for the prosecutor's office to find out anything other than what they did. I just wanted to get through the formalities of this and they did," Eads said today.

In a letter to the editor in today's newspaper, Mentone Town Council president Mark Hughes says the council "fully supports Marshal Eads in his actions."

On Jan. 5, Eads shot Danny L. Hale, 51, of Mentone, while Eads was responding to a 911 call.

Eads allegedly asked Hale to get out of a pickup and surrender. Hale reportedly got out of his vehicle armed with a sawed-off shotgun, and repeatedly threatened to kill Eads and drew his weapon, aiming it at Eads. Eads then allegedly heard Hale prepare his weapon for firing.

Hale allegedly had gone to the home of his ex-girlfriend's mother and threatened his ex-girlfriend, who had a restraining order against him.

According to witnesses, Hale had been drinking when he entered the house and brandished the shotgun. Hale allegedly threatened three adults and two children inside the house before leaving.

Hale entered the home without permission and threatened to kill three people inside.

No charges were filed against Eads in conjunction with the Jan. 5 shooting incident, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office announced Jan. 13.

A statement released by the prosecutor's office then determined "that in order to protect himself and the community, James Eads did fire his service weapon at Danny L. Hale because he was under threat and while he was acting in the course of his duties as town marshal of Mentone."

Charges for burglary of a dwelling while armed with a deadly weapon and intimidation were filed against Hale. Hale was released from Parkview Hospital Jan. 13. Kosciusko County detectives picked up Hale at the hospital and transported him to the Kosciusko County Jail, where he was booked.

Eads said he was on administrative leave from the time of the incident until Saturday while the investigative process and follow-through occurred. [[In-content Ad]]

MENTONE - Jim Eads, Mentone town marshal, is back on the job as of Saturday.

"I didn't expect for the prosecutor's office to find out anything other than what they did. I just wanted to get through the formalities of this and they did," Eads said today.

In a letter to the editor in today's newspaper, Mentone Town Council president Mark Hughes says the council "fully supports Marshal Eads in his actions."

On Jan. 5, Eads shot Danny L. Hale, 51, of Mentone, while Eads was responding to a 911 call.

Eads allegedly asked Hale to get out of a pickup and surrender. Hale reportedly got out of his vehicle armed with a sawed-off shotgun, and repeatedly threatened to kill Eads and drew his weapon, aiming it at Eads. Eads then allegedly heard Hale prepare his weapon for firing.

Hale allegedly had gone to the home of his ex-girlfriend's mother and threatened his ex-girlfriend, who had a restraining order against him.

According to witnesses, Hale had been drinking when he entered the house and brandished the shotgun. Hale allegedly threatened three adults and two children inside the house before leaving.

Hale entered the home without permission and threatened to kill three people inside.

No charges were filed against Eads in conjunction with the Jan. 5 shooting incident, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office announced Jan. 13.

A statement released by the prosecutor's office then determined "that in order to protect himself and the community, James Eads did fire his service weapon at Danny L. Hale because he was under threat and while he was acting in the course of his duties as town marshal of Mentone."

Charges for burglary of a dwelling while armed with a deadly weapon and intimidation were filed against Hale. Hale was released from Parkview Hospital Jan. 13. Kosciusko County detectives picked up Hale at the hospital and transported him to the Kosciusko County Jail, where he was booked.

Eads said he was on administrative leave from the time of the incident until Saturday while the investigative process and follow-through occurred. [[In-content Ad]]

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