Docs: Indy man arrested after punching, pointing gun at woman in vehicle

INDIANAPOLIS — A 29-year-old Indianapolis man has been arrested after he reportedly punched and pointed a gun at a woman in a vehicle on the near northwest side of Indianapolis earlier this month.

According to court documents filed earlier this month in Marion County, Montel Swanson was arrested on the following charges:

• One count of intimidation, a Level 5 felony (where defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon)
• One count of domestic battery, a Level 6 felony (where defendant has a prior conviction)
• One count of pointing a firearm at another, a Level 6 felony
• Misdemeanor count of interference with reporting of a crime
• Misdemeanor count of battery resulting in bodily injury.

On Sept. 18, Swanson was driving a woman when they began to argue about another person calling Swanson. When the other person called Swanson’s phone, the woman reportedly answered the phone. In response to this, Swanson reportedly hit the woman in the face with a closed fist.

After Swanson punched the woman, he reportedly grabbed a firearm from the driver’s seat of the vehicle, pointed it at her, chambered a round and had a finger on the trigger. The woman told police that Swanson told her to “do it again.”

“(The woman) stated she was in fear but not sure if he would have shot her,” the documents read. “She stated she then started to call the police and… Swanson grabbed her phone to prevent her (from) calling for help. She stated… Swanson then exited the vehicle and fled on foot.”

This incident comes after Swanson had previously been convicted of domestic battery, as well as domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman, in two separate cases.

Court documents show Swanson has now been charged with domestic battery eight times since 2017.

“Eight is too many to have an individual still on the streets, still walking and able to harm those that are in their path,” said Danyette Smith, director of Indy Champions.

Indy Champions is a local group that provides resources, education and programs for victims of domestic violence.

She said Indianapolis is working towards preventing these criminals from beating the system.

“We know that abusers can be identified, IMPD can apprehend them and lock them up, but then it ultimately is the judge and the system that makes the decision to release that suspect or that abuser back into the streets,” said Smith.

She said they need more survivors to stand up against their abusers in court when it matters most.

“What’s frustrating is that we see eight in the system, but that doesn’t account for all of the other ones that have taken place, that may not have called 911, or that may not have been able to be charged within the system,” said Smith.

According to a news release from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Swanson was also reportedly involved in an alleged incident on Sept. 19 where shots were fired and struck a house.

Swanson was arrested on Thursday in the 2800 block of N. Sherman Avenue by the department’s violent crimes unit, K-9 unit and SWAT team, according to the IMPD release. The arrests were related to “multiple active warrants for his alleged involvement in multiple violent domestic disturbances.”

“Removing a repeat domestic violence offender from our streets protects the safety and well-being of the victims and the community,” IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said in the release. “Domestic violence cases are some of the most dangerous situations our officers face, as they often involve heightened emotions and unpredictable threats.”

For now, Swanson is being held on no bond for violating probation.

According to court documents, Swanson’s pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 26 and his jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Individuals in need of local services can reach out to the department’s victims assistance unit at (317) 327-3331. Individuals in need of domestic violence resources can contact Indy Champions at (317) 210-0866.

Claire Curry contributed to this report .

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