3 arrested in Versailles; multiple agencies involved
AMY DAVIDSON PHOTO
A flurry of police activity on Tanglewood Road in Versailles on Tuesday morning was cause for concern as neighbors said police vehicles swooped in the Tanglewood Apartments and arrests were made.
According to information from the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office, the arrests stemmed back to a road rage shooting incident that took place in that county on August 7.
Arrested were Joshua Michel Orrantia, 44, Ashley Raymer, 37, and Anthony Boyer, 46.
The press release noted that two vehicles were involved in the road rage incident. One of the vehicles was located and gave cooperation. The second, a gray Ford Focus fled. Just three days later the car was found abandoned in the Versailles State Park by a park ranger. With the assistance of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the vehicle was secured by Lawrenceburg Police and a search warrant was obtained. Evidence that the vehicle had been involved in a shooting was located inside the vehicle. Anthony Boyer was identified as the registered owner of the Focus.
Through the investigation, Joshua Orrantia was identified as the driver of the Focus and he lived with Boyer at the Tanglewood Apartments in Versailles. Law enforcement also learned that Orrantia had been in a relationship with Raymer, who lived at the apartments as well. It was noted that Raymer had assisted Orrantia in ditching the Focus in the park.
Last Thursday, August 24, sealed arrest warrants were issued for the three for the following criminal charges: Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Level 4 Felony; Criminal Recklessness (Deadly Weapon), Level 6 Felony; Pointing a Firearm, Level 6 Felony; Obstruction of Justice, Level 6 Felony; and Assisting a Criminal, Level 6 Felony.
What neighbors of the Tanglewood Apartments were concerned about was a reality that had the Lawrenceburg Police Department, Versailles Police Department, Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police executing search warrants. Both Boyer and Raymer were located at the apartments and arrested. Orrantia was not located there.
Law enforcement were able to find Orrantia soon after the morning arrests at a residence in Jefferson County. When police arrived at the residence, Orrantia fled behind the home into the woods. After an extensive search of the woods and surrounding fields, he was located and brought into custody.
Dearborn County Circuit Court Judge F. Aaron Negangard will preside over the initial hearing. All three are being held at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center.
Deputy Marshal Buchanan noted that he was glad to be able to assist in getting these dangerous criminals off the streets. He also said there is no further danger to people living in the area of Tanglewood Apartments due to this incident. Deputy Marshal Buchanan responded to shots fired on August 22 but was unable to make arrests at that time and a weapon was not found.
Editor’s Note: Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A more detailed story will appear in next week’s paper.
