Two family members accused of poaching deer, then wanting to fight police, are now facing charges.
Brad Witham, 65, of 4378 S. CR 900W, Mentone, is facing charges of intimidation to a law enforcement officer, a Level 6 felony; battery on a law enforcement officer, a Level 6 felony; and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.
Christopher Witham, 63, of 207 E. Broadway St., Burket, is facing a misdemeanor charge of refusing to leave an emergency incident area.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Kosciusko Superior Court II, on Nov. 23 an Indiana Department of Natural Resources officer responded to a deer poaching complaint in the area of 4378 S. CR 900W, Mentone, and spoke with a man who advised his wife had been hunting that morning and heard several rifle shots in succession.
The man told police his wife believed someone was poaching deer, so the man drove around the block and saw Christopher and Daniel Witham in a field they did not own with a dead deer, according to court papers.
The officer then went to Brad Witham’s residence where Brad told police Christopher and Daniel Witham had killed a deer behind the residence that morning. Brad gave the officer permission to park his vehicle at the residence and walk into the field to investigate, according to the affidavit.
While back there, the officer located the gut pile and blood where the deer had been shot, when, according to court papers, a red Ford Ranger pickup truck came driving into the field and to the officer’s location.
Court papers state that Christopher exited the driver’s seat and Brad exited the passenger seat.
Christopher then shouted that he is tired of the neighbor calling police and complaining and said, “I’m going to go get my pistol, go to his f****** house and shoot him in the f****** face.”
Police told Christopher he needs to calm down or he will be arrested for disorderly conduct, court papers state.
Brad then approached the officer and said, “You better get out of my face or I’m going to hurt you.” Witham then reached out with both hands and grabbed the front of the officer’s uniform and was attempting to charge him and drive him into the ground, the affidavit states.
The officer was able to pin Brad to the ground and hold him there, but Brad resisted arrest.
“Christopher Witham requested Brad Witham provide him the keys to the vehicle so that he could get more family members to come back and fight,” court papers state. Brad then rolled over and gave the keys to Christopher, and Brad was taken into custody.
