BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a Bedford Police officer was flagged down by a male who had blood running down the right side of his face.
An ambulance was requested to the scene.
The male told police he was driving west on John Williams Boulevard between O and U streets when he felt something hit the side of his head.
He stated his ear began to ring, and he could feel blood running down the side of his face. He advised he did not see anyone near the roadway, and was unsure of what happened. The male said both the driver and passenger windows were down on his vehicle.
He drove to the parking lot in front of the Department of Child Services, where he saw the officer and flagged him down.
The officer checked the interior of the male’s vehicle but found no projectiles in the vehicle.
A Seals ambulance arrived on the scene and transported the male to IU Health Hospital for treatment. His mother arrived on the scene and followed the ambulance to the hospital.
A nurse at IU Health contacted police and said there was a foreign body, possibly a pellet, lodged in the muscle in his head. The nurse reported the male would require neuro surgery to remove the foreign object. The male suffered a skull fracture from the impact of the pellet. The male was transported to Methodist Hospital for further medical treatment.
Officers conducted patrols in the area of 9th Street and O Street and noticed a pellet gun resembling a rifle on the back porch of a home at 1608 9th Street.
The officer walked to the front porch and knocked on the front door. While waiting for someone to come to the door, he noticed a round container of Crossman 7.4 gr. pointed pellets. He also observed one pellet sitting next to the round container. The officer also observed a can that appeared to be shot in the backyard.
Officers then spoke to a neighbor who said they witnessed their neighbor 35-year-old Ashley Holmes, with the pellet gun around 4 p.m.
Holmes came to the police station after his neighbor told him police were looking for him.
Police say this was not the first incident reported where someone had been struck by a pellet.
Holmes told police the pellet gun belonged to his son and the can in the backyard was for target practice.
Police told Holmes that a witness had placed the pellet gun in his possession around the time the male was struck in the head with a pellet.
Holmes admitted he had shot the weapon “less than 10, but more than 5” times. When asked how often the pellet gun is used, Holmes said, “maybe every other day.”
Holmes told police he uses the pellet gun to shoot pigeons on his property, cans and a slide in his backyard.
Police asked Holmes about the possibility of him possibly missing the slide. Holmes said it was possible.
Holmes then admitted if he did miss the slide, the pellets would either end up in the dirt or on John Williams Boulevard.
Holmes then agreed he had been negligent when shooting the pellet gun and “a possibility” that he could have struck a person or persons on John Williams Boulevard.
“It’s really blowing my mind that people and or vehicle’s being struck, with that being said, things happen,” Holmes said.
When asked if he was shooting these pellets at vehicles or people intentionally, Holmes stated no.
Holmes was then asked about a woman who was shot in the leg on April 5th. The woman was a passenger on a motorcycle.
Holmes could not recall if he had shot the gun on that night.
Holmes again confirmed that shooting pellets towards a public road is not a good idea and that it is dangerous.
Officers recovered the pellet gun and pellets from Holmes porch.
Holmes was arrested on charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
