Court docs: Anderson man forces ex into car at gunpoint before crashing, fleeing on bicycle

ANDERSON, Ind. — A woman told police that an Anderson man she’d recently broken up with forced her into a vehicle at gunpoint only to wind up crashing them both into a telephone pole.

James Lee Gonterman, 26, was arrested on Wednesday on preliminary charges of pointing a firearm, possession of a firearm by a dangerous person, intimidation with a deadly weapon and leaving the scene of an accident.

According to court documents, a woman told police she was at a gas station in Anderson at around 12 p.m. on Wednesday when Gonterman rode up on a bicycle and pulled out a firearm. He allegedly forced the woman into her car at gunpoint, placed his bicycle in the backseat, and drove off.

While in the car, the woman claimed Gonterman pushed the gun into her chest, prompting her to try and wrestle the weapon away. While fighting for the gun, Gonterman crashed the vehicle into a telephone pole in the 2000 block of South 700 West.

After the crash, Gonterman is accused of further pointing the weapon at the woman. Eventually, Goterman called a tow truck and his father, according to the victim.

Court documents reveal that investigators spoke to the tow truck driver who told deputies he witnessed Gonterman flash a gun at both his father and the female victim and threaten to shoot them both. This prompted a fight to break out between Gonterman and his father.

During the fight, Gonterman’s gun fell to the ground. The tow truck driver told police he ran forward, scooped up the gun and unloaded the weapon — which included ejecting a round that was in the gun’s chamber.

The tow truck told deputies he tossed the gun into a field, but Gonterman retrieved the gun, took his bicycle out of the back of the vehicle and fled the scene on W. River Valley Road.

Police officers caught up to Gonterman on 900 West at roughly 6 p.m. Gonterman was riding on his bike and reportedly had blood covering his face. He was taken into custody before he allegedly complained of pain, passed out and was taken to IU Ball Memorial Hospital.

The tow truck driver led police to the area where he unloaded Gonterman’s firearm. Officers found both the unchambered round as well as the magazine that the tow truck driver had ejected from the gun, according to court documents.

A K9 officer also tracked down both Gonterman’s firearm and cell phone, court docs reveal.

Court records show Gonterman has previous convictions for battery and domestic battery as well as a protective order filed against him. This bars him from legally possessing a firearm.

Gonterman was most recently sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to domestic battery in July 2023.

Charges have not yet been officially filed in connection to his most recent alleged crime. The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office will make all final charging decisions.