BLOOMINGTON — A Bloomington man, recently released from jail on a misdemeanor battery charge, has been arrested again, facing seven new felony charges after allegedly strangling and beating two different individuals on the same day.
Michael D. Hartman, 28, was taken into custody Sunday night. This arrest follows his release from Monroe County Jail just last Thursday, where he had been held on a previous misdemeanor battery charge, according to court records.
Roadside Assault Leads to Severe Injuries
Bloomington police responded to a call at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday concerning a fight in the roadway near the intersection of South Leonard Springs Road and West Sims Lane. Officers arrived to find a 37-year-old man on the ground, covered in blood, next to a parked car with fresh damage and a cracked windshield.
The victim told police he was driving northbound on Leonard Springs Road when he encountered a man, later identified as Hartman, walking in the road. The victim attempted to drive around Hartman, but Hartman allegedly jumped onto the front of his 2008 Chevy Trailblazer, denting the hood and cracking the windshield.
When the driver stopped to confront Hartman, Hartman allegedly shoved him, began punching him in the face, pulled him to the ground, and repeatedly attempted to strangle him. The assault continued as Hartman allegedly grabbed the victim’s phone, ripping it from his hands as he tried to call for help, and continued hitting him until someone walking by called 911.
The victim was transported to the hospital with severe facial injuries, including broken bones and extensive swelling around his eyes, necessitating a medical procedure. Officers described his face as “nearly unrecognizable.”
A Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy located Hartman walking south of the incident scene and detained him. After an interview and hospital clearance, Hartman was booked into Monroe County Jail. He faces preliminary charges of:
- Aggravated Battery (Level 3 felony)
- Criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony
- Robbery, a Level 5 felony
- Strangulation, a Level 6 felony
- Intimidation, a Level 6 felony
- Interference in reporting a crime, a Class A misdemeanor
- Criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor
- Obstruction of traffic, a Class B misdemeanor
Investigation Uncovers Second Assault
During the investigation, Bloomington police determined Hartman was also the suspect in another physical altercation that occurred “just prior” to the roadside beating. This second alleged assault reportedly took place on W. Heatherwood Drive, approximately 0.3 miles from where the driver was attacked. While specific details of this incident were limited in the initial report, it was called into 911 concurrently with the S. Leonard Springs Road incident.
Following further investigation into the Heatherwood Drive incident, Hartman was preliminarily charged with additional offenses:
- Strangulation, a Level 6 felony
- Domestic battery, a Level 6 felony
- Domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor
- Two counts of Interference in reporting a crime, a Class A misdemeanor
Prior Release on Misdemeanor Charges
Online jail records indicate Hartman’s recent release. He was arrested on Wednesday, July 23, and preliminarily charged with battery and criminal mischief. The Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office stated that a probable cause affidavit was not filed for these charges, as both were misdemeanors.
Court records show Hartman was officially charged on Thursday, July 24, in Monroe Circuit Court 3 and was “released on own recognizance and placed on pretrial release” the same day.
An initial hearing for his prior misdemeanor case is scheduled for August 21.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
