A suspect wanted in two alleged domestic violence incidents in October and an alleged shooting Sunday afternoon was taken into custody Sunday night after a woman reported she had a bat in her house.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Jermaine Thomas, 37, Salina, was taken into custody late Sunday night at a residence in the 100 block of West Beloit Avenue. A woman had called to report a bat in the residence, he said. A police investigation had identified the residence as a possible location for Thomas, Forrester added.
While talking with the woman outside about the bat, officers were able to confirm that Thomas was, indeed, in the residence, Forrester explained. Although the SWAT team was called in, a detective was able to talk Thomas out of the house without incident, he said.
Forrester said Thomas was arrested on suspicion of:
- Two counts of aggravated battery
- One count of aggravated domestic battery
- One count of domestic battery
- Two counts of intimidation of a witness
- Two counts of damage to property
- One count of theft
- Two counts of aggravated assault
- Two counts of aggravated robbery
- One count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon
Forrester said some of the requested charges were because of two alleged incidents in October. On Friday, a 22-year-old female reported that at about 9 p.m. Oct. 25, Thomas had kicked in her back door, threw her on the living room floor and strangled her, causing injury to her neck, Forrester said. Thomas left the residence about 4 a.m. the next day, he added.
The woman reported Thomas showed up again Thursday at approximately 11 p.m., Forrester said. Thomas allegedly attempted to once again kick in the back door, causing additional damage, Forrester said. The woman attempted to keep Thomas out of the house, but he allegedly pushed her, causing her to fall on a battery-powered car in the house and causing a scratch on the bridge of her nose by her right eye, Forrester said. Thomas then allegedly followed the woman into the living room and took three cellphones, Forrester added.
Forrester said the woman was able to leave the residence about 8 a.m. Friday. When she returned later, the three cellphones and a flat-screen television were missing, he said.
At approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, police were called to the 400 block of Montrose Street for the report of a person shot, Forrester said. There police made contact with Deric Bell, 28, who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen, Forrester said. Bell and a passenger in the Chevrolet Tahoe, Eric Enslow, 34, Salina, reported the incident occurred in the vehicle, which Bell was driving, Forrester said. Enslow was in the front passenger seat and Thomas was in the back seat, he added.
Thomas allegedly pulled out a larger-sized handgun and shot Bell, who exited the vehicle while it was still moving and ran east toward Montrose Street, Forrester said. The Tahoe came to a stop when it hit the curb at the intersection of South Clark Street and Armory Road, he added.
Thomas then allegedly pointed the gun at Enslow and demanded money, Forrester said. Enslow gave Thomas an undisclosed amount of cash, and Thomas exited the vehicle, running westbound, he said.
Bell was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Forrester said. Bell was not acquainted with Thomas, however, Enslow was, Forrester added.