12/16/03 1:50 PM
I met Lonnie and his brother last summer. They were walking down the street pushing a lawn mower, and I asked them if they wanted to mow some lawns for me.
They did a good job that first day, while I watched them work.
The next day, I gave them a list of yards to cut, and Lonnie said he did the work, so I paid him, but when I checked the work hadn’t been done. So that $60 was the first theft.
That was also the first time I met person #4, one of Lonnie’s two sidekicks. #3 might have been there too.
The next day, I said I was busy (which I was) and didn’t have time for them.
They stole my lawn mower, a $260 6HP snapper from Walmart. Lonnie had some story
claiming the lawn mower had been stolen from them, and that they would pay me back for it.
Several days later, I heard that Lonnie had been arrested for breaking into his mom’s house and stealing stuff. This might have been the 202 Temple incident I heard about later.
He was on a month’s house arrest at 52 N Tacoma.
About a month later, he came to see me. He had a variety of stories trying to borrow or con me out of $60 which he said he needed to get a bus ticket to his father’s in Kentucky.
These included that he would sell me a gun he showed me. He also pretended to be suicidal, putting the gun barrel in his mouth. When none of this worked, he pulled the gun on me and took my wallet, with about $90. He said he was going to kill me, but instead ran out the front door, while I ran out the back.
I next saw him again in December.
Saturday Nov. (?) in the evening there was a knock on my door. I opened the door and was surprised to see Lonnie, with #4. He began to walk in the door, while making conversation. I pushed the door closed on him, and ran upstairs and called 911. As I came downstairs, he had walked in the back door. We talked, each aware that the other was lying. I said that this wasn’t good time, and suggested we talk outside.
Where he robbed me with a knife. He took 35$ from my pockets. He asked if I had called the cops. I said “yes, they’re on their way.” They ran. The police arrived 15 seconds later.
Officer 1 became overtly hostile after I declined to give a ssn, and treated the incident dismissively. He said that it would be about 10 days before a detective would be assigned. He gave a yellow card with the case ID. Officer 2 was more friendly, small talk about knowing my roommate’s sister. Was not involved in taking the report.
The next day, Sunday evening, I was sleeping or reading in bed when Lonnie, #3, #4, and a fourth person,
who I recognized by his voice as Lonnie’s brother (14 or so, may attend arsenal tech,
Lonnie’s stepfather’s son, last known residence 52 N Tacoma) walked up the stairs.
[details omitted in this draft – stressful -.]
They had taken me downstairs. Lonnie said he was going to “finish the job” – to kill me.
I began kicking the wall behind me, 3 times, and then twice more as they realized I was alerting my roommates on the south side of the house. They fled out the back door, while I yelled for Joell.
The cop was better this time. He seemed to take the incident seriously, and made a more detailed report. He gave some good practical advice about how to protect myself.
The next night they came back, but I was gone.
They broke the back window and opened the kitchen door. Joell heard them and called 911.
I returned briefly after thanksgiving in Philadelphia, arriving Saturday night. Tuesday evening I was sorting through some paperwork (looking for documents that might help me get my driver’s license) when I looked up and saw a person in a black ski mask holding a knife. We struggled for the knife, he ran. It may have been #3, but I cannot be sure. Cad: IPO 03119821 case #. I033361698
I got the distinct impression it was someone I would recognize. Too skinny to be Lonnie, too short to be #4, too muscular to be Lonnie’s brother. #3 Looks like a cowboy, or like someone from Kentucky or Appalachia, about 20, 5’6” to 5’10”. Black hair, shoulder length, maybe a mustache.
Known associates of Lonnie, they (3 + 4) may be implicated in a robbery at 202 Temple that I heard about from neighbors (a usually unreliable source) who have been seeing Lonnie around this summer – I had not told them of the earlier incident. I’m told that’s the incident that led to Lonnie’s house arrest.
A week later, there was evidence someone had entered the house via a window.
A week after that, Monday a week ago, someone tried to pry off the back lock from the inside.
That’s where things stand right now.
I am staying outside of town, and can be reached via 891-6664.
I attest that the above is true as far as I know.
Other details as they occur to me:
Lonnie says April Eubanks is his cousin. She is a former tenant of mine.
April is registered at the plasma center on Washington in Irvington.
Lonnie said his uncle may be buying 40 N Tacoma (one of the lots Lonnie mowed for me) at the tax sale. Formerly owned by the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center.
Robbin Stewart.
Wednesday, December 17, 2003