A Portage man faces multiple felonies after he fired a gun four times from his car while in the driveway of a Chesterton residence, wounding a male relative in the shoulder, court documents show.
The most serious charge against AJ Pingol, 32, of the 6900 block of Eisenhower Boulevard in Portage, is a Level 3 felony of aggravated battery. He is also charged with Level 5 felonies of criminal recklessness, intimidation and domestic battery, and Level 6 felonies of strangulation and domestic battery.
A female relative of Pingol was staying with her two children at the home of the male relative because of ongoing domestic conflict in the home, according to a probable cause statement filed in Porter Superior Court.
Pingol went to the Chesterton home in the 1100 block of Pam Drive around 12:20 a.m. Wednesday.
The man of the house was awakened and told that Pingol was out in the driveway. He went out and confronted Pingol, telling him to leave.
When he attempted to close the driver’s car door, Pingol bit him on the hand. The man then pulled his hand away and headed with his back turned, walking toward his house. He heard a pop, followed by three more in succession, a court record shows.
Chesterton Police soon arrived and found that the man had suffered a non-life-threatening wound to his shoulder. Several bullet fragments were found in the driveway and the exterior of the residence.
An interview with the woman revealed that Pingol had sent her threatening text messages. Chesterton Police also took photos of marks on her neck, which she said resulted from being assaulted by Pingol, the court record says.
Pingol is employed as a certified nurse assistant in Valparaiso, according to court documents.
Chesterton Police, hours later Wednesday morning, went to Pingol’s workplace, where he was arrested without incident. Police found in an oven a bag that contained a handgun and a wallet with his identification. A search of his vehicle found a bullet shell casing, the court record says.
When he was later interviewed, Pingol said he had fired his gun into the driveway because he wanted to “scare” the man. He also acknowledged that his actions were “stupid” because they endangered the women and children inside the residence, the court record shows.
Pingol admitted to sending the text messages, but stated that the choking of the woman had occurred accidentally, a court record says. He is being held in the Porter County Jail.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
