A tussle between two Linton men resulted in arrests after a March 9 incident.

Michael Paul Archer, 44, was arrested by Greene County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) Deputy Shawn Cullison on charges of possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of paraphernalia. Barry St. John, 66, was arrested by Deputy Cullison on a charge of driving while suspended.

Archer contacted the GCSD alleging St. John had hit him with a handgun and had tried to shoot him at a State Road 59 address in Linton. Archer said St. John had left the scene in an Oldsmobile.

Cullison along with GCSD Deputies Zack Goad and Harvey Holt, GCSD Chief Deputy Terry Wade, and Jasonville Police Chief Ryan Van Horn responded to the call. While en route to the scene, Van Horn contacted Cullison to let him know he’d located St. John.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Cullison observed dried blood across Archer’s forehead as well as blood on his fingers. Archer alleged St. John struck him several times in the head with a handgun and fired one shot from a handgun at him but missed. Archer claimed St. John had been sending him threatening text messages throughout the previous night but could not provide the messages to Deputy Cullison as he had deleted them.

While speaking with Archer, according to the probable cause affidavit, Cullison was made aware St. John alleged Archer hit him with the stock of a rifle. Cullison asked Archer if he had a gun at the residence which Archer alleged not that he knew of.

St. John was transported to the Jasonville Police Department by Deputy Goad to be interviewed by Cullison, Wade, and Goad. According to the probable cause affidavit, Cullison noticed a small laceration between St. John’s eyes and one on his head in addition to dried blood on his lips and gums. According to the probable cause affidavit, St. John denied having a handgun and hitting Archer with a gun. St. John said that he was recently released from Sullivan County Jail and while in jail, he alleged Archer stole some items from him. St. John showed officers threatening text messages he had received from Archer earlier that morning.

St. John explained to officers that he went to Archer’s residence and when Archer opened the door, he pointed a .22 caliber rifle at him. St. John alleged Archer hit him with his fist before they both fell to the ground and fought. During the fight, St. John alleged Archer hit him in the mouth with the stock of the rifle. St. John said he then left the residence.

A search warrant was applied for and granted for Archer’s residence to attempt to locate any firearms, shell casings, or signs that a gun had been fired. Chief Deputy Wade and Cullison executed the search warrant. Near the front door of the residence, which enters into a garage, is where St. John said the fight happened. There, officers located a single .22 caliber bullet lying on the floor. Next to the bullet was a glass smoking device with burnt white residue inside. A red Chevy truck was parked next to the area where the bullet and pipe were found. Chief Deputy Wade located a .22 caliber rifle hidden under a pair of blue jeans in the bed of the truck. The stock of the weapon had what appeared to be blood on it. As officers were walking upstairs to a bedroom, they noticed several .22 caliber bullets lying on the stairs and in the doorway. Inside the room, there were more bullets on the floor and a small wooden box containing bullets on the bed. Officers located a soda can with white powder on top of it. A single syringe was also located, stabbed into the wall. An uncapped syringe was located on a shelf next to a glass smoking device.

According to the probable cause affidavit, while executing the search warrant, officers did not locate any evidence of a gun being fired inside the residence nor did they locate any information of St. John possessing a handgun at the residence.

While interviewing Archer, according to the probable cause, he admitted he did have a .22 caliber rifle and did hit St. John with it. He also allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine.

Archer was taken to Greene County Jail where he was held without bond until his initial hearing on March 13. After appearing in court, his bond was set at $10,000 surety with 10 percent allowed. He is being charged with: possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 Felony; unlawful possession of a syringe, a Level 6 Felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor.

St. John was taken to Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $1,000 with 10 percent allowed. He posted $100 and was released later the same day.