MITCHELL – Rickie Ray Pulley Jr., 37, of Mitchell, was arrested Wednesday, June 25, after an alleged domestic abuse incident at his State Road 60 West home escalated, leading him to barricade himself inside a mobile home.
Pulley faces a multitude of charges, including criminal confinement with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, domestic battery with moderate injury, domestic battery with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, strangulation, intimidation, battery against a public safety officer, resisting law enforcement by fleeing, and resisting law enforcement by force.
Lawrence County Central Dispatch received a call at 1:12 p.m. from a woman who reported that Rickie Pulley Jr. had physically abused her the previous night, leaving her with a “black eye.”
Lawrence County Police Department Captain Andrew Phillips, along with Officers Corey Housel and Kaden Flynn, responded to the scene in the 4100 block of State Road 60 West. Upon entering the residence, they observed that the woman had a black right eye and red marks on her upper right leg. She informed officers she had been battered by Pulley overnight and into the morning, and that the family believed Pulley was experiencing psychosis.
When officers attempted to take Pulley Jr. into custody, he allegedly resisted, stiffening his arms and pulling away. Captain Phillips deployed his TASER, which appeared to have limited effect. Pulley then reportedly picked up a chair and threw it at Captain Phillips, striking him, before fleeing on foot into a nearby mobile home and barricading himself inside.
A perimeter was established, and attempts to contact Pulley by phone and through a trained negotiator from Indiana State Police were unsuccessful. After numerous failed attempts to persuade him to surrender, officers made entry into the residence. Pulley was found in the living room and continued to resist arrest, leading to a struggle before he was finally taken into custody. An ambulance was called to the scene to treat Pulley, who was then transported to IU Health for further treatment.
Later, the female provided a detailed statement to officers. She alleged that the abuse began around 6:00 a.m. after an argument with Pullry about her speaking to a ride service driver. She claimed Pulley took her phone and purse, ordered her into the mobile home, and spat in her face. She further alleged that Pulley grabbed a wooden stick, threatening to kill her and bury her. She told police that Pulley made her lie on the bed and hit her with the wooden stick approximately 10-15 times if she moved. She also reported that he hit her at least five times with a shovel, threatening to “split her head.” The woman displayed injuries consistent with her report, including bruising and swelling on her head, leg, arm, eye, and neck. Officers collected a wooden stick and a shovel as evidence.
The woman also recounted that Pulley prevented her from answering the door when a pharmacy arrived to drop off medical supplies. Towards the end of her statement, she revealed that Pulley had choked her with both hands, telling her he would kill her and that she would not survive the day, threatening to throw her in acid. She described almost passing out and seeing stars.
The Department of Child Services was contacted due to the severity of the alleged abuse and the children’s potential exposure to the visible injuries of their mother, despite not being present during the direct incident. The children are reportedly staying with a grandparent due to Pulley’s recent behavior.
A Probable Cause Affidavit outlines the initial findings and allegations that led to an arrest. Criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
