Large brawl near Pierce & Gilmore Streets leads to 4 arrests; Indiana State Police ERT called in

What began as a late-night street fight involving roughly twenty people escalated into a multi-agency law enforcement response early Saturday morning, with officers ultimately executing a search warrant on a nearby residence and arresting four individuals on a range of serious charges.

Plymouth Police units were dispatched by Marshall County 911 to the intersection of Pierce and Gilmore Streets at approximately 12:15 a.m. on May 23rd in response to a large fight in progress. Before officers arrived on scene, dispatchers relayed alarming updates — that pipes and guns were involved, that a vehicle's windows were being smashed out, and that as many as seven individuals in the crowd were armed with handguns.

Upon arrival, officers found several individuals who had been involved in the altercation, as well as unspent ammunition rounds scattered in the roadway.

Witnesses and victims told officers that two individuals had been pistol-whipped and had a handgun placed to the back of their heads during the melee. Several suspects were reported to have fled into the residence at 200 Pierce Street.

Officers attempted to make contact with those inside but received no response. A search warrant was obtained, and the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team was called in to assist with its execution, as it was believed that as many as ten individuals and an unknown number of weapons were inside the home.

While officers waited for the ERT to arrive, the front door opened, and one person exited. Officers simultaneously observed two individuals running toward the back of the residence.

Officers entered the home and located five individuals in a rear bedroom. When those individuals refused to comply with commands, a K-9 from the Marshall County Sheriff's Department was deployed. The K-9 bit two of the individuals who resisted before all five were detained and taken into custody. Several handguns were recovered inside the residence.

Four individuals were transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Plymouth for treatment and jail clearance before being booked. The following were arrested Saturday night on varying charges: Austin C. Price, 19, Elijah K. Waggoner, 21, Kiley E. Pitts, 21, and Amro Y. Yasin, 20, all of Plymouth.

Initial charges include intimidation with a deadly weapon, battery, public intoxication, minor consuming, obstruction of justice, criminal mischief, and resisting law enforcement.

The Plymouth Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed once the case is forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office for review.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.