More details revealed in police gun scare

BY STAN MADDUX

AMichigan City Police officer found himself face to face with a man constantly pulling the trigger of a handgun that was pointed at him.

This happened after the gunman had already fired shots at officers.

Those are the latest details to emerge in the criminal allegations leveled against Joshua Mohamed, 46, of Michigan City.

Mohamed is charged with Level 1 felony attempted murder, Level 5 felony criminal recklessness and Class A misdemeanor pointing a firearm stemming from the Feb. 17 incident at the suspect’s home.

According to court documents, Mohamed, who has a history of threatening suicide, called 911 asking for help.

Officers Michael Petrie and Scott Paull, after knocking on the door and receiving no answer, forced their way inside the residence at 1504 Barker Ave.

They heard Mohamed from a bedroom saying “help me” and claiming someone was trying to shoot and kill him, according to court documents.

Police said it took longer than usual to reach Mohamed because of numerous items stacked and scattered everywhere in a “hoarder-like manner.”

Attempts were being made to talk Mohamed into coming out from underneath a bed when a gunshot was fired.

The round flew to the right of the officers, who left the bedroom and from behind the corner of a wall kept trying to speak with Mohamed, court documents revealed.

Police said three to four more gunshots were fired from underneath the bed.

Officers left the residence and evacuated surrounding homes as a safety precaution.

According to court documents, members of the SWAT team were dispatched and, using a shield, went inside the residence.

They also moved items out of their way to clear a path to the bedroom.

Officer Mark Raymond was looking underneath the bed when he spotted Mohamed laying there and repeatedly pulling the trigger of a gun pointed at him.

Fortunately, the semi-automatic weapon was no longer loaded, police said.

Officer Raymond grabbed the gun and put Mohamed in handcuffs.

Mohamed was transported to Franciscan Health and booked Thursday, Feb. 23, into the La Porte County Jail, where he was being held on $100,000 bond.

LOCAL DIRECTOR WILL SCREEN, DISCUSS HER FILM AT FILM GROUP MEETING

Local director Rana

Segal will screen her documentary “Hema: The Dance of Life” at the next Harbor Country Film Group meeting Saturday, March 11, at the New Buffalo Township Library.

The film tells the story of Hema Rajagopalan, an acclaimed Bharata Natyam dancer and founder of the Natya Dance Theatre. It follows Hema’s journey from a child prodigy in India to her settling in America, where her devotion to Bharata Natyam dance helps preserve her culture’s traditions for all artistic genres.

Segal will introduce the film and lead a discussion afterwards. An award-winning director, producer and cinematographer, her work has aired on PBS, The Learning Channel and Discovery Health Channel. Segal received an Emmy nomination for “Painting the Town,” which is about a Chicago muralist, and another for “Shifting Sands On the Path to Sustainability,” about efforts to preserve the Indiana Dunes. The film group meeting begins at noon and should last about an hour and a half. There is no charge to attend. All are welcome and free popcorn will be served. The New Buffalo Township Library is located at 33 N. Thompson Street in downtown New Buffalo. —