Evansville police arrested a 22-year-old man early Friday after he allegedly came home intoxicated, beat his brother with a metal pot, then confronted three family members after exiting a vehicle, pointing a handgun at them before getting back into the vehicle and leaving. Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Maryland Street shortly before 1 a.m. after a 911 caller reported that their brother was chasing them with a gun.
According to the Evansville Police Department, the incident began when Kristopher K. Bretz returned home intoxicated and threatened his brother. When family members tried to intervene, Bretz allegedly struck his brother multiple times in the head and chest with a metal pot before being forced out of the house, per the department's account, as reported by WSON Radio. After his brother fled the residence, Bretz allegedly threatened another family member as well.
Officers say Bretz then confronted three victims after exiting a vehicle, pointing a handgun at them and issuing death threats before getting back into the vehicle and leaving. Police later located the vehicle at a nearby residence, where another subject had picked up Bretz. Officers identified two additional victims during the investigation and took Bretz into custody.
Felony Charges Reflect Escalating Allegations
Bretz faces preliminary charges of domestic battery causing serious bodily injury, domestic battery with a deadly weapon, domestic battery with a protective order, invasion of privacy, and intimidation, according to the department's news release, numbered 26-14043.
Under Indiana Code § 35-50-2-6, Level 5 felonies — including domestic battery with a deadly weapon — carry a sentencing range of one to six years in prison, an advisory sentence of three years, and fines up to $10,000, according to Banks & Brower. Separately, Indiana law defines communicating a threat as a Class A misdemeanor, but the offense is elevated to a Level 5 felony when a deadly weapon is drawn or used during the act, per Justia Law.
Indiana criminal law defines a deadly weapon broadly to include household objects capable of causing serious bodily injury depending on how they're used, according to the Marc Lopez Law Firm — a definition that can apply to a metal pot swung as a weapon. Invasion of privacy, meanwhile, involves knowingly violating a court-issued protective or no-contact order, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine for a first offense under Indiana Code § 35-46-1-15.1, according to Justia Law.
Booking Information
Available search results show a current booking for Bretz but do not verify a prior arrest listing, preliminary charges, or the dates described here.
Local Resources for Domestic Violence Cases
The Evansville Police Department handles domestic-violence cases. The available information does not describe domestic-violence response practices across Vanderburgh County.
The article lists the Albion Fellows Bacon Center and includes a Vanderburgh County Government link. It remains unclear what bond conditions, if any, were set for Bretz following his arrest, and the physical condition of the victims has not been detailed in the department's release.
