Man accused of threat, assault charged with aggravated arson

By Ed Runyan

runyan@indy.com

WARREN

Warren police used a ballistic shield, similar to what SWAT teams use, when they arrested Lamar A. Mitchell, 32, at a house on Parkman Road Northwest on charges of aggravated arson and domestic violence.

Mitchell was arraigned Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court, and Judge Terry Ivanchak ordered him held without eligibility to make bond for a probation violation and because of his history of failing to appear for court. A not guilty plea was entered on the arson, and he pleaded not guilty on the domestic violence.

Mitchell, who has various addresses in Warren, Niles and Youngstown, is accused of setting fire to his girlfriend’s home on Arthur Drive Northwest at 5:41 a.m. Monday, about 90 minutes after she went to the police department to report that Mitchell had assaulted her.

While she was talking to an officer, Mitchell called her on her cellphone, and the officer listened on speaker phone as Mitchell threatened to set fire to her house.

The woman was not home at the time of the fire, and no one was injured, but the fire caused $25,000 in damage. The city fire department called the fire arson.

The 21-year-old woman went to the police department at 4 a.m., saying Mitchell had stolen her phone from her, then hit her in the eye, choked her, pulled her hair and threw her to the ground when she took the phone back.

He tried to set the gas tank of her car on fire just before she drove the car to the police station, she said. The man also called and texted her, saying he was going to blow up her house and car, she said.

The officer advised the woman that he would file a police report, but she would have to speak to a prosecutor about filing charges. The woman declined medical treatment.

At 5:40 a.m., the woman’s neighbor called 911 to report that the 21-year-old woman’s home in the 1400 block of Arthur was on fire, Fire Chief Ken Nussle said.

A warrant was issued for Mitchell’s arrest after the fire, and a police officer discovered he was at the Parkman Road address late Monday. Mitchell was also wanted in Niles on a stalking warrant.

Officers removed a woman and children from the apartment and used the ballistic shield before they went inside looking for Mitchell because of his “violent history,” police said. They found Mitchell hiding in a crawl space in the attic/bedroom.

Warren police also filed a police report after the victim’s 23-year-old sister, of Warren, reported at 7 p.m. Monday that Mitchell had threatened to kill her and her children.