The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against a Frankfort man for battery, intimidation and resisting law enforcement after three victims reported that he held them at gunpoint Saturday morning, Nov. 4.
On Saturday around 5 a.m., Lafayette and Tippecanoe County law enforcement officers were notified of a situation involving Justin Altwein, 32, of Frankfort. According to police, Altwein allegedly approached three residents of a Lafayette home in the 3200 block of South 18th Street in Lafayette, entered their detached garage and threatened the victims with a pistol.
Police reported that the victims stated that Altwein “pistol-whipped” one of the witnesses before enforcements arrived. Reports state that authorities were notified by one of the residents inside the detached garage when they texted 911.
Lafayette police stated that Altwein released the residents after officers surrounded the building, but he reportedly refused to leave the building. Authorities report that teams attempted to encourage Altwein to surrender for two hours. A SWAT team and K-9 units arrived on the scene, entered the building and apprehended Altweing, authorities report.
Investigations began within the Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 on Wednesday, Nov. 8 when a motion for DNA and fingerprint samples was filed alongside an intent to file for a habitual offender status and a no contact order. The court set a bond of $25,000 surety and $10,000 cash for Altwein.
According to court documents, Altwein has been charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon, Level 5 Felony, three counts of intimidation with draw or use of a deadly weapon, Level 5 Felony, battery against a public safety official, Level 6 Felony, unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior felony conviction within the last 15 years, Level 5 Felony, resisting law enforcement, misdemeanor, and unlawful carrying of a handgun, misdemeanor.
A pretrial conference was scheduled for March 1, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. with a jury trial scheduled for March 26, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.
According to court documents filed May 10, 2023, Altwein has a pending case in Clinton County as well. Altwein was charged with possession of cocaine, Level 6 Felony, and a $695 cash bond was entered in the Clinton Circuit Court in Frankfort. Documents state that, on Sept. 18, the jury trial originally scheduled for Nov. 14 was rescheduled to Jan. 8, 2024, at 1 p.m. by request. A hearing on motion to suppress was also rescheduled from Oct. 30 to Dec. 4.
The habitual offender status filed on Nov. 8 also considers a previous judgement decided on Jan. 4, 2018, where Judge Steven Meyer of Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 ruled that Altwein be sentenced for four years for carrying a handgun with a prior felony conviction within the last 15 years and one year for resisting law enforcement. The habitual offender status will also consider a denial for appeal in the 2017 to 2018 case where the court wrote, “Altwein has a lengthy criminal record that includes juvenile offenses, felonies, and misdemeanors. Several of his convictions consist of crimes similar to the present offense: he was previously convicted of delinquent possession of a firearm, theft of movable property, criminal damage to property, malicious destruction of a building, and assault with a dangerous weapon.”