Docs: Muncie man attacked his wife's coworker for watching the Pacers game, drinking beer with her

MUNCIE, Ind. - A Muncie man was arrested overnight after police say he attacked his wife's coworker with brass knuckles and made threats with a gun. The man was reportedly upset that his wife was watching the Pacers game and drinking beer with her coworker.




James R. Hopkins, 42, was arrested early Thursday morning and booked into the Delaware County Jail. He now faces several felony charges, including battery with a deadly weapon and intimidation.

Muncie police were dispatched around midnight to a local apartment after callers reported a man waving a gun trying to break into a nearby home. Officers arrived and began looking for the suspect, later identified as Hopkins.




Police soon located a victim who identified himself as Hopkins' wife's coworker. The man said he was inside his home watching the Pacers game and drinking beer with Hopkins' wife when the incident occurred.




The victim said Hopkins walked into his home uninvited and that he was wearing brass knuckles. He told officers that it was obvious Hopkins had been drinking and was agitated. Soon, Hopkins allegedly punched the man in the face while wearing the brass knuckles.




Multiple witnesses said Hopkins then pulled out a small silver pistol and pointed it at the coworker's chest while threatening to kill him. That is when Hopkins' wife reportedly stepped between them and said, "If you're going to shoot someone, shoot me."




Hopkins' wife then ran out of the home, and Hopkins reportedly followed her. Police finished speaking with the victim and took pictures of his injuries, which included cuts on his lips and blood under his nose.




Officers then spoke with Hopkins' wife, who said she and her husband were separated and no longer living together. Earlier in the day, Hopkins had reportedly shown up at her house drunk and aggressive. The woman said she then went to her coworker's house to escape Hopkins.




The woman said that shortly after she arrived at her coworker's house to watch the Pacers game, Hopkins burst through the door unannounced with a pistol in his hand. The woman said she didn't witness Hopkins hit her coworker, but verified he pointed a gun and made violent threats.




The woman said that once she was able to calm Hopkins down, she left her coworker's house and went home. Soon after, Hopkins reportedly arrived at her house and had a rifle in his hands. She told police that while Hopkins did attempt to break in the back door, he never pointed the rifle at anyone.




While searching the area for Hopkins, officers found a small handgun on the floor of his car. However, they could not find Hopkins.




Later in the shift, officers found Hopkins at a Walmart on W. Clara Lane, and he was taken into custody without incident. He was then booked into the Delaware County Jail on the following charges:

• Burglary while armed with a deadly weapon - Level 2 Felony





• Intimidation with a deadly weapon - Level 5 Felony





• Battery committed with a deadly weapon - Level 5 Felony





• Unlawful carrying of a handgun - Class A Misdemeanor

The last charge that Hopkins faces, misdemeanor illegal gun possession, stems from a domestic battery charge levied against him in January. While that case is still pending in Delaware Circuit Court, police said he is barred from owning any handgun.




Online court records show that prosecutors filed a Red Flag request against Hopkins on Tuesday. Also called the Jake Laird Law, the Red Flag law allows for the temporary seizure of guns from anyone deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.




Records have not yet been updated to reflect an initial hearing in Hopkins' case. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/docs-muncie-man-attacked-his-wifes-coworker-for-watching-the-pacers-game-drinking-beer-with-her/