A Bloomington man was arrested late Wednesday after allegedly firing a handgun into the air and down a street.
Thomas E. Oakley, 29, and his girlfriend had just arrived at a residence in the 1600 block of West Eighth Street at 6:10 p.m., Bloomington Police Sgt. Jeff Canada said, when the pair began arguing.
The girlfriend’s mother, 42, told police she asked the couple to leave and a verbal argument began to escalate, moving into the front yard and eventually the street.
Inside the house, the girlfriend’s brother, 17, heard a single gunshot interrupt the dispute, Canada said. The brother went outside and saw Oakley yelling at his sister and pointing a gun.
Oakley then allegedly fired the gun four or five more times down the street, Canada said.
The brother later said he was familiar with the gun and described it as a silver .22 caliber handgun with a wooden handle and a makeshift silencer.
The brother told police he asked Oakley to leave the residence. In response, Oakley reportedly pointed the gun at the teenager and said, “I have a whole ‘nother clip.”
Oakley and his girlfriend then got into a green Chevy Cavalier and left.
At 9:40 p.m., BPD officers saw the car pulling out of a driveway on Oard Road, according to the police report. The officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, and the car began to speed away, driving west on Indiana State Road 48 before turning onto Indiana State Road 43.
Police continued to pursue the vehicle as it headed south. A few miles into the chase, the vehicle slowed down in the middle of the road and two passengers exited, Canada said.
One passenger was Oakley’s girlfriend. Neither passenger was Oakley.
The car then sped off again. While some officers took the passengers, who were not charged, into custody, other officers resumed the chase.
The pursuit continued until the vehicle reached an area the report referred to as Gray Hill. The car pulled to a stop and the driver, identified as Oakley, stepped out into the road, Canada said.
Oakley was then arrested.
He faces preliminary charges of intimidation, criminal recklessness, pointing a firearm, resisting law enforcement and being a felon in possession of a handgun.
— Jake New
