A Greenfield man is facing felony charges after authorities say a backyard shouting match with neighborhood kids turned into a knife-in-hand threat. Police were called to the Osage Street area on June 6, where court documents identify the suspect as 57-year-old Brett Kelcey Granger.
According to documents obtained by Fox59, three boys told officers they heard Granger yell "shut up" while they were playing in a yard. They said he then came outside holding a knife and warned, "I'll come over and beat our as**."
A witness told police that she and Granger had been drinking earlier and that she suffered abrasions while trying to pull him back inside, according to the report. Officers reported finding a knife on Granger during their interview with him. Charging documents state he was booked on four counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony.
What the charges allege
Court filings describe the incident as starting with yelling and escalating to a direct threat made while Granger allegedly had a knife in his hand, which sits at the heart of the case prosecutors are bringing. Indiana courts have held that an intimidation charge is elevated when a person "draws or uses a deadly weapon" while making a threat, as reflected in recent appellate decisions compiled by Justia.
Penalties and next steps
Under Indiana law, a Level 5 felony carries a fixed prison term of between one and six years, with an advisory sentence of three years, according to the state statute listed on FindLaw. Granger faces four counts in Hancock County, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Court officials have not yet released details about upcoming hearings. More information is expected to become public as prosecutors file formal charging documents and judges set a schedule for the case.
