MITCHELL — A Mitchell man is facing multiple criminal charges following a weekend confrontation where he allegedly threatened two young men with a firearm after items fell from their truck near his residence.
Steven Johnson, 58, has been charged with pointing a firearm, a Level 6 felony, and intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, following an investigation by the Mitchell Police Department.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Cody Grogan, officers were dispatched to Priority Fitness on West Main Street on March 28, 2026, to meet with two male victims.
The two men reported they were leaving a residence in the area when several gutter parts fell off the back of their work truck. As they stopped to retrieve the items near Johnson’s home at the 500 block of Crawford Street, they heard a man yelling from the porch.
When they turned around to address the shouting, the victims stated they saw Johnson aiming what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun at them. According to witness statements, Johnson allegedly shouted, “Don’t be messing around here or you’ll get shot.” The two men immediately fled the area and sought help from authorities.
Detective Grogan and Officer Cody Blackwell later arrived at Johnson’s residence to investigate the claims. According to the affidavit, Johnson admitted to being agitated, claiming that “some kids” were revving their engines and had woken him up. He told officers he merely told the occupants of the vehicle to “get out of here.”
When asked about a firearm, Johnson claimed he only possessed a pellet gun and denied that any actual firearms were involved in the dispute.
Johnson informed officers that he had recorded the entire interaction on his home security cameras. However, when detectives requested to view the footage to verify his story, he refused to provide it.
Police noted that Johnson became increasingly agitated during the interview, eventually ordering the officers to leave his property and slamming his door.
Based on the consistent statements provided by the two victims and the nature of the threat, Detective Grogan requested an arrest warrant for Johnson. He was detained on Monday, April 20.
In Indiana, intimidation with a deadly weapon is a serious felony charge that carries a potential prison sentence of one to six years. The charge of pointing a firearm applies regardless of whether the weapon was loaded or if a shot was actually fired.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
