Docs: Fight involving Tipton man leads to uncovering of stolen firearm

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A 23-year-old Tipton man has been charged after he reportedly attempted to steal bicycles and power tools from a Lafayette apartment with a stolen gun on Wednesday.

According to court documents, filed on Friday in Tippecanoe Circuit Court, Jonah Wallsmith has been charged with one count of theft, a Level 5 felony, one count of unlawful carrying of a handgun, a Level 5 felony, and one misdemeanor count of unlawful carrying of a handgun.

At around 12:31 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were dispatched to an apartment in Lafayette in regards to a fight. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who appeared to have blood on him. The man told officers he reportedly fought another man, later identified as Wallsmith, who was attempting to steal items from the apartment.

The man told police that Wallsmith attempted to take various items from the property while carrying a grey backpack, including:

• Bicycles
• Power tools
• A pair of purple sunglasses.

The man told officers he attempted to stop Wallsmith and a fight began. The documents said that Wallsmith attempted to punch the man and the man then “threw Wallsmith to the ground on a pile of rocks.”

When police spoke with Wallsmith, he denied ownership of the grey backpack that was directly behind him. When officers searched the backpack, they reportedly found a pair of purple sunglasses, Wallsmith’s identification card as well as a handgun that was reported stolen in June.

Wallsmith told police that he did not take any items, stating that he was carrying the backpack for his friend’s girlfriend. The documents said that Wallsmith admitted to police that he knew the firearm was in the backpack but continued to claim he was holding it for a friend.

Officials linked the handgun to a residence on State Road 38 in Lafayette. The owner of the handgun reported it stolen on June 1, telling officers that it was reportedly stolen from the center console of his vehicle.

The court documents state that the prosecutors are seeking to name Wallsmith as a habitual offender in this case. According to court documents, Wallsmith was previously convicted of one count of burglary, a Level 5 felony, in April 2021. Wallsmith was also previously convicted of one count of theft, a Level 6 felony, in November 2023.

According to court documents, a hearing in this case is scheduled for Aug. 23.

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