BEDFORD – Bedford Police Department arrested 41-year-old Michael Morales after they were called to an apartment in the 1730 block of O Street after a report of a battery and possible confinement.
Morales was arrested on charges of cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm by a violent felon, possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer, maintaining a common nuisance, pointing a firearm at another person, domestic battery in the presence of a minor, domestic battery, possession of methamphetamine with a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and intimidation with a deadly weapon.
When police arrived at 12:27 a.m. on Saturday they found Morales standing outside of the backdoor. When Morales saw the officers he stepped back inside.
Officers knocked on the door and Morales stepped around the corner and rushed at the door trying to block officers from coming inside.
As Morales stepped out onto the deck, officers could smell the odor of burnt marijuana.
Officers then asked to speak to Morales’ wife. Morales said he didn’t know where she was.
At the same time, another officer at the Bedford Police Department was speaking to a woman who reported she had seen a Facebook post by Morales’ wife that was concerning. The woman contacted Morales’ wife and she told her she had been injured and Morales wouldn’t let her leave and the woman was afraid.
Another officer at the scene found the woman hiding behind a vehicle just east of the apartment. The officer said the woman was visibly shaken.
Police did say the victim was intoxicated.
She told officers Morales had punched her in the face. She suffered a cut above her right eye. He then pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her.
The two had been in an argument over Morales taking Xanax.
He then held the gun to her head and said if she turned him in he had Surenos – a Mexican-American street gang – that would take care of her.
When she attempted to leave, she had her keys which were attached to a lanyard. Morales grabbed the lanyard pulling it from her causing her to fall down hitting her lower back on the stairs.
Most of the fighting took place in front of her 9-year-old daughter.
The woman told officers Morales had been abusing her for the past several days.
The woman gave officers consent to search the apartment. Morales denied permission. Officer also secured a warrant to search the apartment.
During the search officers found a marijuana grow in an upstairs bedroom closet and a loaded shotgun. In the living room officers found a jar of marijuana, a metal canister with two glass smoking devices, a grinder, a prescription bottle containing marijuana, miscellaneous vape cartridges, pills on a coffee table. They also found a loaded handgun on the couch and a plastic straw with meth residue.
Both Morales and the woman were transported to the Police Department.
Morales told police that his wife was showering and he had unplugged a space heater in the bathroom. The unplugging of the space heater angered the woman and she had slapped him in the head. He then went to the bathroom. She followed him, shoved him on the bed, got on top of him and began choking him. She then tried to perform oral sex of him but he didn’t want to.
The woman was transported to IU Health Hospital for a medical evaluation.
The officers noted, “Even though the woman was intoxicated, Officers felt that the nature of the alleged charges was too serious to put off until she was more sober and able to give a statement then.”
If you or someone you know is involved in a domestic violence situation and needs help, call Hoosier Hills PACT 24-hour crisis line at 1-888-883-1959 or visit their website at https://www.pactchangeslives.com/
The agency can provide emergency assistance with shelter to those in domestic violence situations. Hoosier Hills Pack also provides assistance with court advocacy, protective orders, education, outreach programs, support groups, and more.
