Police: Man pointed shotgun after dispute over laundry

NEW CASTLE, Ind. – Authorities said a dispute over laundry prompted a New Castle man to point a loaded shotgun at his girlfriend’s adult son.

Mark C. Rains, 53, was charged this week in Henry Circuit Court 2 with pointing a firearm, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison.

New Castle police said Rains was arrested Tuesday after they were called to his girlfriend’s home in the 2300 block of Grand Avenue.

Her son reported he was sitting on a couch when “Mark became upset over laundry,” left the room, and returned with a loaded shotgun, which he pointed at the other man’s head.

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His accuser said he grabbed the barrel of the gun and was able to wrestle the firearm away from Rains.

Asked by police what had happened, Rains reportedly responded, “Nothing, it was just words.”

Rains’ girlfriend – who reported they had been dating for six years – asked they he be told to not return to her house.

Rains – with a blood-alcohol content measured at 0.264, more than three times the legal limit for a motorist in Indiana – was taken to Henry County Hospital for an exam before being delivered to the Henry County jail. He was being held Friday under $5,000 surety bond and $350 cash bond.

The New Castle man – who received a July 9 trial date in Henry Circuit Court 2 – has been convicted of carrying a handgun without a license, disorderly conduct, driving as a habitual traffic violator, driving while intoxicated (at least four times), neglect of a dependent, public intoxication and resisting law enforcement.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.