TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A dispute between neighbors over a trash can turned physical and led to a man’s arrest for battery and theft of a firearm.
That’s according to court documents filed with Vigo County Superior Court 6 regarding the arrest of Donald R. Orman Jr.
The probable cause affidavit indicates that police were initially called to a property in the 1800 block of N. 9th Street in Terre Haute on of May 22 for a reported robbery.
When police arrived they found a resident with a bruised left side of his face and swelling, who told them three of his neighbors had attacked him, stolen his gun, and reportedly fired a shot as he attempted to run back to his home.
The man said he had entered the neighbor’s backyard to search for his missing trash can that he said had been found in his neighbor’s yard in the past. While looking for the serial number, the men reportedly came into the backyard, shoved him to the ground, and struck him in the face. As this was occurring, the victim reported that his .40 caliber handgun had fallen from its holster, and been picked up by one of the attackers.
The neighbor reportedly denied the altercation ever occurred, saying no one had left or entered the house around that time, and that he had retrieved trash cans that morning that he believed had belonged to him.
Security camera footage from the victim would reportedly show the three attackers entering and exiting the home around the time the alleged battery occurred.
The investigation would lead police to learn that the trash can in question had been one of the cans in the backyard of the neighbor’s property. However, initially, they were unable to locate the handgun or any ammunition.
The following day, May 23, THPD would make an arrest for possession of a stolen handgun. The arrested man, Keegen Bingman, told police that he had traded dirt bike parts for the gun from Donald Orman the day before at 4 p.m., five hours after the initial incident.
Bingman told police he was unaware the gun had been stolen and that Orman had told him the gun was clean.
The victim would later tell police that Orman Jr. was the person who had shoved him to the ground and picked up his weapon.
Court records indicate that Orman faces the following charges;
- Theft of a firearm
- A level 5 felony
- Criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon
- A level 6 felony
- Battery resulting in bodily injury
- A class A misdemeanor
Orman had his initial hearing in Vigo County Court on Wednesday where his bond was set at $25,000 with no 10% allowed. Orman is scheduled to have a bail review hearing on June 14, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for October 4.
