LEESBURG - Monday night a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Deputy's life was threatened at Tippecanoe Lake.
Kenneth Barnett, 51, of Empire, Ala., was arrested and charged with intimidation and resisting law enforcement, both Class D felonies. Bond was set at $2,000.
At 7:44 p.m. KCSD Deputy Mike Fowler responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle sitting outside the Tippy Dance Hall. According to the police report the vehicle owned by Barnett had been sitting in front of the dance hall for five hours.
When Fowler arrived on the scene he located a green and tan vehicle that fit the description dispatch reported. He then approached the vehicle to talk to Barnett. Fowler asked Barnett if everything was OK and Barnett said, “get the (expletive) out of here.”
“You’re not in trouble. I am just trying to figure out what was going on,” said Fowler to Barnett. “I am going to (expletive) gut you like a fish.” Barnett responded.
Fowler then asked dispatch to send additional units to respond to his location. After requesting backup, Fowler asked Barnett if he had any weapons in the vehicle and Barnett did not respond. Fowler then asked Barnett if he had any guns in the vehicle.
“I am going to blow a hole in your chest.” Barnett said.
After Barnett threatened Fowler he reached under his seat and Fowler immediately stepped back and took cover behind his patrol car and pulled his firearm on Barnett. Fowler then gave verbal commands to take his hands out from under the seat. Barnett continued to scream at Fowler.
Fowler advised dispatch that he had Barnett at gunpoint and needed backup. He then continued to give commands to Barnett, which were not followed.
Shortly afterwards Officer Justin Lentz, of the North Webster Police Department arrived on scene. Both Fowler and Lentz gave verbal commands to Barnett to remove his hands from under the seat. When he removed his hands he lit a cigarette.
At this point Trooper Ryan McNamara arrived with K9 Zaine. Shortly after McNamara arrived KCSD Cpl. Kevin Gelbaugh and KCSD Deputy Brad Kellar arrived on scene.
Gelbaugh began to give verbal command to Barnett, asking him to show his hands and exit the vehicle. At that time Deputy Kellar and Officer Lentz walked around the house. Deputy Kellar broke the back window of the van and Officer Lentz dispersed a canister of pepper spray into the vehicle.
After the vehicle was filled with pepper spray, Barnett started the vehicle and put it into drive. Fowler then moved his patrol vehicle in front of Barnett to block him. Trooper McNamara began to give verbal commands to his K9 unit Zaine and Barnett exited his vehicle with his hands in the air and began to lie on the ground.
After Barnett was in custody, Fowler searched the vehicle. He did not find any firearms, but did find a knife.
On the way to the Kosciusko County Jail, Barnett continued to threaten Fowler. Once Barnett reached the jail he refused treatment for the pepper spray.
After speaking with the resident Nathan Coy, law enforcement was informed that Barnett was looking to purchase property in the area and was waiting for a real estate agent to come show him the property.
KCSD, Indiana State Police and North Webster Police Department responded to the incident.
