A Jasonville man was in court last week, charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon and pointing a firearm at another man. The two men were involved in an ongoing disagreement over the care of an elderly family member which led to a confrontation then an arrest.

Tommy Earl Edmondson, 39, Jasonville, was arrested by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy James Carpenter on Sunday afternoon, November 11, after he and Deputy Jordan Gooding were dispatched late that morning about an altercation at a residence in the Jasonville area.

Chief James Gadberry and Officer Ryan Van Horn, both of the Jasonville Police Department, also responded to the call.

Deputy Carpenter, the investigating officer, reported both men confirmed they had been in an ongoing disagreement over taking care of some of their grandmother’s needs, like taking her to a doctor’s appointment.

On that Sunday, they both wound up at their grandmother’s residence. When Edmondson arrived, the other man was inside the house and came outside.

The man who’d been inside alleged Edmondson retrieved a black pump shotgun from his vehicle and he said he heard Edmondson pump the shotgun to chamber a round. He said Edmondson started yelling and pointed the gun in his direction so he went back inside and locked the door.

Deputy Carpenter said the man told him Edmondson then went into the garage and was kicking a door into the house trying to get in.

Carpenter also spoke to the grandmother and another person who was with Edmondson and he was able to contact Edmondson who met him at the Jasonville Police Department for an interview.

Edmondson allegedly said he had gone to the house to go squirrel hunting and pick up some sticks. He said when the other man came outside, he (Edmondson) did put the gun up against his shoulder but he didn’t point it. He said he told the man to stay away from him as the man continued to yell at him.

Carpenter said Edmondson told him he only had his shotgun out to keep the man from chasing him, but he did say he told the man if he tried to hurt him again, he was going to shoot him.

Edmondson allegedly said he put the shotgun back in his vehicle when the man went back into the house, and he then went into the garage and was softly knocking on the door in an attempt to speak to his grandmother. He said when he was told to leave and that cops were being called, he left.

There were variations in the stories told by the two men. However, a witness to the incident provided Deputy Carpenter with a video recorded on their cell phone. Carpenter reported the video showed Edmondson standing at the entrance of the garage and the audio included the conversation and yelling that was going on which included threats. He said the video then showed Edmondson had a large knife on his belt as he was walking out of the garage holding a shotgun.

Edmondson was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $11,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. Edmondson was released later that same day after posting $1,100 cash.

When Edmondson appeared in Greene Circuit Court for his initial hearing last Thursday, he was served with a no-contact order and charged with intimidation – defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, and pointing a firearm at another person (firearm unloaded), a Class A misdemeanor. Edmondson’s eligibility for a public defender was not evaluated. He told the court he would retain an attorney of his own choosing.