On Saturday, Bellefontaine Police were dispatched to the 1700 block of South Main Street for a person with a gun. The victim stated to dispatch that a male, identified as the arrested, Marquell Mander Stevens, pulled a gun on him. The victim, who is the manager of the property, tried to confront Marquell regarding the property. The victim stated to dispatch that Stevens pulled a gun on him three times during the altercation.
While en route, the dispatcher stated that Stevens took off walking northbound toward Lamplight Apartments. Police were advised that Stevens was wearing blue checkered pants and was accompanied by a small, long-haired dog. Stevens was later seen running westbound toward the bike path, where officers approached him from both directions on the trail.
When questioned, Stevens stated that the victim “walked up on him,” and he told the victim over and over to stop walking up on him. Stevens admitted that he pulled the gun on the victim, but he chose not to shoot him because the victim was not armed and was not attacking him. Stevens said that he walked away because he didn’t want to deal with the cops, and he figured that they would question the victim and leave.
Stevens said the argument began when he was seen pulling a metal chair over so he could charge his phone. He said the victim informed him that he was dragging private property. Stevens said that he got upset, but he believed he did the right thing. Stevens said that, “Maybe he should have waited for the cops.” Officers asked Stevens if the victim threatened him at any time, and Stevens said that he did. Stevens said, “He didn’t threaten me enough to get shot, but at the same time he did threaten me enough to get shot.” Stevens said that he was being verbally aggressive, but he did not pose any physical threat. He told police that the victim never verbally threatened him or put their hands on him.
The victim stated that he wished to pursue charges for menacing and that he wished to have Stevens trespassed from the property. Stevens was arrested for aggravated menacing and lodged in the Logan County Jail.
