Staff Report

Kyle Thomas Michaelson

MENTONE — A Mentone man was arrested for possessing two handguns as a convicted felon.

Kyle Thomas Michaelson, 31, 4996 S. 900W, Mentone, is charged with carrying a handgun without a license and driving while suspended prior, both class A misdemeanors; and carrying a handgun with a prior felony conviction, a level 5 felony.

On May 22, a Mentone Police officer was in the area of SR 25 and CR 900W when he saw a vehicle traveling 61 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer turned his patrol vehicle around and saw the vehicle pull into a driveway. As the officer pulled into the driveway, the vehicle’s only occupant, later identified as Michaelson, began walking to a house. The officer asked Michaelson to return to the vehicle and he complied.

According to court documents, when asked if his driver’s license was valid, Michaelson said that it was but that it had been suspended in the past. The officer later learned that Michaelson had a driver’s status of suspended prior, with an indefinite re-eligibility date.

The officer placed Michaelson into custody for driving while suspended and searched Michaelson’s vehicle. While searching the vehicle, the officer found a firearm magazine. Michaelson admitted there was a firearm in the vehicle and said he was a convicted felon. Michaelson also does not have a license to carry a handgun through the state of Indiana.

The officer found a total of two loaded handguns in Michaelson’s vehicle.

Michaelson has three prior convictions for driving while suspended, nonsupport of a dependent child, and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, in Kosciusko County.

For this case, Michaelson has already been arrested and released on bond.