New Year’s Day shooting suspect arrested again
A Mountain Pine man who allegedly shot another man on New Year’s Day and was later released on bond was arrested again early Saturday on multiple charges after an alleged confrontation with the mother of his child.
George Alex Lewondowski, 38, of
107 Seventh St., was taken into custody at his residence shortly after 1 a.m. and charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of second-degree terroristic threatening, third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and third-degree domestic battery, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Lewondowski was being held on $15,000 bond and appeared Monday in Garland County District Court.
He was previously arrested April 16 and charged with first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, for the New Year’s Day shooting, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to
30 years, and possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, stemming from drugs allegedly found during his arrest.
Lewondowski was released later that day on $18,500 bond and appeared April 29 in district court where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is set for a felony review hearing on June 24.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the new charges, Mountain Pine police officers Joshua Jester and Richard Lobbs were dispatched to a residence at 115 Seventh St. regarding a disturbance.
Upon arrival, they noted damages to the outside of the residence including a red metal chair that had been thrown through a window, glass all over the ground and damage to the siding and screen door.
They spoke to the alleged female victim, 28, and two other female occupants of the residence, ages 49 and 70.
The victim stated that earlier that day Lewondowski had been calling her accusing her of keeping their baby away from him. She said she asked if he was still selling drugs because she didn’t want her child exposed to that kind of activity. She said she finally agreed to bring the baby over to his residence and shortly after she got there they began arguing.
She said she was on the sofa feeding the baby when Lewondowski grabbed her by the arm and began yelling at her and threatened to kill her as she walked toward the door. She said she left with the baby and Lewondowski followed her back to her residence. As she reached the front door, she alleged he threw a chair through the window and screen door.
The officers noted the victim had bruising to her right arm. One of the occupants, 49, said the victim had only been gone about 15 minutes to go see Lewondowski when she “came running back into the house” asking her to take the baby. Then the witness heard a loud crash. Damages to the house were estimated at $1,300.
A passing motorist, 58, stated he was stopped at the intersection of Seventh and Ouachita when he saw the victim “moving quickly” toward her house followed by Lewondowski and it appeared she was trying to get away from him.
Lewondowski was located at his residence a short time later and taken into custody. Once at the jail, he allegedly became irate and began cursing at officers and had to be moved to another part of the jail.
According to the affidavit on the previous charges, on Jan. 1, Garland County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call of shots fired at Lewondowski’s residence and arrived to find a man, age not released, with a gunshot wound to his lower right leg. The man was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where he was treated in the emergency room.
Investigators arrived at the residence and reportedly located two .380-caliber expended shell casings next to the house. Witnesses said the victim had been outside yelling at Lewondowski who came outside and fired a gun multiple times. It was also noted the shooter had fled the scene before deputies arrived.
Investigators spoke to the victim at the hospital and he stated he and Lewondowski got into an altercation. He said he was outside the house and yelled for Lewondowski to “come out and fight like a man.” He said Lewondowski came outside and then shot him. A warrant for Lewondowski’s arrest was issued the next day.
On Jan. 4, the sheriff’s department identified Lewondowski as a suspect in the shooting and asked for the public’s help in finding him. It was determined he was back at his residence on April 16 and he was taken into custody without incident.
He was searched and three baggies of what later tested positive for meth, a total of 14.6 grams were allegedly found in the pockets of his shorts, along with one baggie containing 1.2 grams of what later tested positive for cocaine.