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Warrant out for Linton man accused of threatening a police officer

There’s a warrant out for the arrest of a Linton man who was arrested then bonded out of jail but didn’t show up in court. He’s accused of threatening a police officer during a tense situation, going so far as to clench his fists while dancing around in a boxing stance, yelling he was going to beat the officer.

Jonathan L. Towell

Jonathan L. Towell

Jonathan L. Towell, 32, was arrested by Det. Paul Clark of the Linton Police Department back on Saturday, October 27.

Towell’s bond was set at $6,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. The next day, on October 28, he posted $650 cash, was released from jail and given a date of Thursday, November 1, for his initial hearing in Greene Superior Court. He was a no-show. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Towell’s arrest and criminal case is connected to the arrest of Theodore James (T.J.) Miller, 36, also of Linton, on the same day. Miller is accused of operating a vehicle when he didn’t have a valid driver’s license, then when Det. Clark attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Miller allegedly fled in the vehicle, stopping at a residence where Towell resided in a camper on the property, then Miller fled on foot.

Det. Clark said when Miller ran from his vehicle, Clark gave chase but lost him. When Clark got back to the front of the residence, he heard a voice yelling an obscenity and threat toward him and he recognized the man as Towell. Then Miller, who had been inside the residence, came outside.

In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Det. Clark, he wrote that when other officers arrived to assist, he was dealing with an “out-of-control” scene which resulted in the arrests of both Miller and Towell.

Towell allegedly continued to yell threats at the officer, that he would beat him and mess him up – the exact words he allegedly yelled were a bit more colorful and included obscenities. After he’d threatened this more than once, Det. Clark told him he was under arrest. Towell refused to turn around or place his hands behind his back. There was a scuffle and the officer was struck.

Det. Clark reported that as this situation was unfolding, several people had begun to gather in the vicinity, Clark was calling for additional officers to assist, and Towell was going from being apologetic to very aggressive and at one point, took a boxing stance with his hands clenched in fists while he danced around.

Once other officers arrived on the scene, Towell was taken into custody.

The preliminary charges filed against Towell include:

  • Intimidation – threat is to certain types of people, a Level 6 felony,

  • Battery against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony,

  • Resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally flees from law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor,

  • Resisting law enforcement – knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor, and

  • Disorderly conduct – engages in fighting or tumultuous conduct, a Class B misdemeanor.

As of early Tuesday morning, Towell had not yet been arrested. When he is back in custody, a new date for his initial hearing will be scheduled, and he also has a couple of other prior criminal cases pending against him.