Staff Report

Michael Ryan Kneller

NORTH WEBSTER — An Atwood man was recently arrested after burglarizing a garage and battering a man with a knife handle.

Michael Ryan Kneller, 40, 217 E. Main St., Atwood, is charged with burglary, a level 2 felony; battery while armed with a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and habitual offender enhancement.

On June 22, North Webster Police officers received a report of burglary occurring at a residence. A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer advised via radio that a person at the residence contacted him and that he went over to the residence, found the suspect and handcuffed him.

Upon arrival, North Webster officers identified the suspect as Kneller. According to court documents, a man at the residence said he was closing his garage when he saw Kneller in the garage. When the man yelled at Kneller, Kneller fled on foot with items from the garage, including firearm ammunition and a golf cart battery charger.

The man chased Kneller, who eventually stopped and allegedly pulled out a knife. Kneller struck the man under his ribs multiple times with the knife handle. The man had visible injuries and redness under his ribs from being struck with the knife, which was found at the scene. Kneller did not have permission to be in the residence or to take property from the residence.

Kneller admitted he went to the residence to take items because he believed a different person resided there, and that he believed that person had stolen items from him.

Kneller is currently on probation for the offense of theft, a level 6 felony. He has also been convicted of three prior unrelated felonies, including two theft cases.

He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 22.