UPDATE: Bainbridge man arrested on attempted murder charge following standoff

Don Inman

BAINBRIDGE -- A Bainbridge man is in the Putnam County Jail following a police pursuit and two-hour standoff late Tuesday night.

Donald Lee Inman, 50, was booked into the Putnam County Jail at 1:07 a.m. Wednesday on initial charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and criminal mischief.

The first report of shots fired came at approximately 9:30 p.m. from the Denver McMurtry residence at 2485 E. U.S. 36, Bainbridge.

A few minutes later, another call was placed to Putnam County dispatch of shots fired at 2997 E. CR 800 North, Bainbridge, the home of Jan Ferrand and Jack Watson Sr.

When police arrived at the Ferrand and Watson residence, they learned it was Inman driving the vehicle and he departed the residence heading east.

As deputies were searching for Inman, Roachdale Town Marshal Mike Mahoy radioed saying Inman had just passed him heading west on 800 North.

A pursuit began, with Inman refusing to stop for police officers. He eventually returned to McMurtry's address, where police surrounded him in a field behind the residence.

The standoff lasted about two hours, Det. Sgt. Pat McFadden advised in court documents, with Inman sitting in his truck, refusing to communicate with police.

When Inman eventually attempted to move shortly before midnight, police shot out his tires, disabling his vehicle.

Chief Deputy Tom Helmer credited Deputy Mike Downing with firing the shots that brought the standoff to a peaceful end.

"He did a fantastic job of disabling the vehicle," Helmer said.

With the tires flat and his vehicle unable to top a hill, Inman finally surrendered to police.

In the vehicle, police found a shotgun and two .22 caliber rifles.

The attempted murder charge springs from Inman's initial confrontation with McMurtry.

McMurtry told police that Inman showed up in his driveway, placed a shotgun outside the driver's window, pointed the gun at McMurtry and fired.

The alleged victim jumped out of the way just as Inman fired. The shot was fired from only two or three feet, and while McMurtry was not hit by a shot, he felt heat from the shotgun blast and sustained a minor burn to his right triceps.

At the second house, Ferrand told police she heard dogs barking and looked out the window to investigate. She heard two loud shots and looked out the window to see Inman turning around in her driveway.

She went outside to discover the windows to Watson's truck shattered.

Inman is believed to have been intoxicated during the incidents. There was a beer can in plain sight during the standoff, police said. He also reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol when he was taken into custody, as did the cab of the truck.

Police attempted a breathalyzer test at the Putnam County Jail but an insufficient sample was received.

During his interview with police on Thursday, Inman admitted to shooting out the windows of both McMurtry's and Watson's trucks.

Inman said he was angry with the two men and that he "wanted revenge."

He further said he did not believe he was intoxicated. However, he also did not remember being pursued by police nor did he remember seeing McMurtry when he shot at the man's truck.

One piece of good news in the incident is that McMurtry's burn was the most serious injury.

"All in all, it went well because nobody got seriously hurt," Helmer said.

Inman will likely appear in court on Friday.