Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD - A Milford man is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail after allegedly jumping from a car and firing a gun at the scene of a traffic stop.
Milford Deputy Marshal Rich Miotto stopped a vehicle on CR 1150N, east of Old Ind. 15, after the driver allegedly ran a stop sign. The two people in the car told Miotto they were in a hurry to get to the Waubee Trailer Court, where a man - the driver's stepbrother and the passenger's boyfriend - was reportedly threatening to kill himself.
While Miotto was notifying the Central Dispatch Center of the situation and requesting assistance for the possible suicidal person, a vehicle reportedly approached the traffic stop scene at a high rate of speed.
When the vehicle got to the area of the traffic stop, the driver/suspect reportedly jumped out of his vehicle and onto the car that Miotto had stopped.
Travis Lee Espey, 22,of 427 E. CR 1150N #1, Milford, then allegedly battered Gerry Thompson, his stepbrother and the driver of the car. As Thompson attempted to drive away from Espey, a press release said, Espey reportedly fired a pistol, with the single round striking the bumper of Thompson's car.
Miotto disarmed and apprehended Espey, then awaited assistance from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. Espey is being held on $2,000 bond on a charge of criminal recklessness.
Espey's car, which was left in gear as he allegedly jumped from it, struck Miotto's squad car during the incident.
No injuries were reported and damage to the Milford Police Department car was minimal.
