Law and Order Gary
May 29, 2012 4:24PM
Rance Mitchell | Provided photo~Sun-Times Media
GARY
Police looking for shooter with record
An arrest warrant has been issued for Rance G. Mitchell Jr., 35, charged with shooting a man who was trying to prevent Mitchell from harming Mitchell’s girlfriend, police said.
The victim, Robert Boehm, 46, of Valparaiso told Sgt. Larry Robertson he received a call Sunday morning from Stephanie Parker, who said Mitchell had beat her up and she wanted to leave, court records state.
Boehm went to the 1800 block of Connecticut Street for Parker, then drove to a gas station on Broadway.
Mitchell followed the pair on a bicycle and was carrying a gun. He told Boehm he only wanted to hurt Parker, but Boehm interceded. During the struggle, the gun fired and Boehm was shot in the chest.
Boehm is charged with aggravated battery, felony battery and misdemeanor battery.
He was charged in 1995 with murder, but later served three years when he pleaded to assisting a criminal.
In the interim, he was convicted in Miami County with drug and obstruction charges and was released from prison in August.
Mitchell should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. Anyone who encounters him should call 911. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call the police department’s anonymous tip hot line at 866-274-6347.
Man stabbed in eye with screwdriver
When Leon Willis returned to his Glen Park home early Saturday, he told his female companion to wait in the car.
Inside, his girlfriend became upset and the two argued and fought until she allegedly stabbed him in the right eye with a screwdriver, police spokesperson Cpl. Gabrielle King said.
Willis, 42, who has been arrested at least four times on domestic battery charges, drove with the companion to Chicago, then decided he needed medical attention.
Cpl. Timothy Komoscar and Patrolman Ryan Cain went to Advocate Trinity Hospital to obtain information from Willis about the incident.
Sgt. Larry Robertson is investigating.
Finger shot during struggle for gun
An East Chicago woman told police she was shot in the finger early Tuesday by man who tried to rob her as she drove home from work.
Lakeisha Rhodes, 30, said she was driving west on 5th Avenue about 12:30 a.m. when a man with a gun approached her car near Porter Street. Rhodes said she grabbed his gun and was shot during the struggle.
Detective Alex Jones is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information can call him at 881-7477.
