Arrest made in Poland incident

Friday, November 4, 2011

POLAND -- Clay County Sheriff's Department officials have arrested a 58-year-old Poland man in connection with a shooting at a rural Clay County home Sunday, Oct. 30.

According to officials, John Bromagen was arrested and preliminarily charged with criminal recklessness (a Class D felony).

After a report containing close to 100 pages of narratives, photographs, statements, criminal history reports and diagrams was presented to the Clay County Prosecutor's Office, the prosecutor forwarded a probable cause statement requesting the arrest.

According to information provided by the department, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Oct. 30, officials responded to a 911 call from the Bromagen residence, 7629 E. Private Rd. N., Poland.

Officials stated prior to the 911 call, two men, Kenneth Receveur and Christopher Irvin, both of Whiteland, were in the Poland area working on a camping trailer near the Bromagen residence.

Officials said Receveur and Irvin allegedly drove onto the Bromagen property. Clay County Chief Deputy Rob Gambill said the investigation revealed Cathy Bromagen had "yelled" at the two men as they drove by her residence earlier, believing they were driving too fast on the road.

Gambill said Receveur got out of his vehicle and met with both Cathy and John Bromagen, asking if an RV on the property was for sale.

An altercation ensued, involving Cathy Bromagen, Receveur and the Bromagen's son, Joshua, who had just arrived at the residence. Eventually, it escalated out of control.

During the incident, Irvin reportedly got out of the vehicle and picked up a metal pipe. According to information provided by authorities, Bromagen said Irvin started toward him with the pipe.

Bromagen entered his residence, and witnesses reported Irvin used the pipe to bust out a window and screen at the front door of the home.

According to the report, Bromagen then got a .22 caliber rifle and went outside and shot it into the air.

After the fighting stopped, witnesses stated the two men said they intended to get guns as well.

Officials said Bromagen believed both were attempting to find guns in their vehicle so he continued to fire shots at the vehicle.

One of the first rounds fired struck the front windshield. According to officials, Bromagen said the vehicle took off and was "spinning in circles."

Bromagen said the vehicle finally drove away from the property and he immediately shot out the back windows of the automobile.

During the shooting, Receveur was struck in the face with glass or bullet fragments.

An investigation of the vehicle concluded it had been struck at least five, and possibly six times by rounds from the rifle.

"The investigation was very convoluted and arrests weren't immediately made," Gambill said.

Bromagen was arrested Friday afternoon and taken to the Clay County Justice Center.

Officials indicated charges on others involved in the incident have been requested.

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  • Sounds like these two went out looking for trouble and found it in a form they couldn't handle. If they were attempting to shoot from a moving vehicle after assaulting them on their property and threatening to get guns of their own,,sounds to me that it is a simple case of self defense. Were any guns found in the vehicle? I believe this husband was protecting his family and property! I wish him the best.

    -- Posted by Ya THUNK on Sat, Nov 5, 2011, at 7:41 AM
  • I'm with yaTHUNK,I have a rule too,don't come to my house looking for trouble,because you WILL find it!

    -- Posted by obeone on Sat, Nov 5, 2011, at 9:00 AM
  • Once the two were driving away shouldn't the shooting have stopped?

    -- Posted by kbmom on Sat, Nov 5, 2011, at 9:31 AM
  • Sounds like the guys in the truck should have been arrested, not the homeowner.

    -- Posted by ruserious27 on Sat, Nov 5, 2011, at 10:30 AM
  • See Brazil Times for CCSD respond.

    -- Posted by donalde on Sat, Nov 5, 2011, at 10:46 AM
  • After reading the Brazil times article,I understand why he was arrested,you can't keep shooting as they are leaving! Thank you donalde for your note.

    -- Posted by obeone on Sat, Nov 5, 2011, at 3:19 PM
  • sounds like they are all hooligans. if someone was leaving the scene they should have stopped shooting and call the cops. dont get me wrong i believe in protecting yourself from bodily harm, but theyre driving away. call the cops,

    -- Posted by pukee on Sun, Nov 6, 2011, at 12:18 AM
  • Let this be a lesson to all!They stated they were getting their own guns,,,at this point you NEVER are marking a vehicle for any reason! Your IN FEAR OF YOUR LIFE!!! If he would have said this,,ITS OVER!!So says the Castle Doc. LAW !!!

    -- Posted by Ya THUNK on Sun, Nov 6, 2011, at 7:12 AM
  • Although the word 'bust' has been used as a slang term for breakage, it has not as yet made it into the Merriam-Webster definitions as such. Please try to help local parents and teachers in their attempt to teach their children proper grammar by using the word 'break' or 'broken' in lieu of 'bust' or 'busted.' It sets a bad example AND it makes your staff look stupid...

    -- Posted by chp on Sun, Nov 6, 2011, at 7:06 PM
  • Most times, it's best not to yell at strangers.

    -- Posted by westforty on Mon, Nov 7, 2011, at 8:55 AM
  • Oh, my. A Receveur in the middle of a scuffle. Who woulda thunk it?

    -- Posted by Clovertucky on Mon, Nov 7, 2011, at 10:33 AM
  • Just to let everyone know. Receveur was trying to run over the Bromagen's with his truck, when it was shot at!!!! John was trying to save his familys life and his.

    -- Posted by GrandPapajohn on Tue, Dec 13, 2011, at 3:01 PM
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