Bloomington man accused of firing gun into ceiling, facing multiple felony charges

Written from court documents

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — September 5, 2025

A Bloomington man is facing several felony charges after deputies say he fired a handgun into the ceiling of his home during an argument and later admitted to discarding two firearms on the property.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Monroe Circuit Court, 30-year-old Michael E. Hale was arrested August 29, 2025 after Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on North Thomas Road.

The caller told police Hale became upset over his presence at the house and fired a gun into the ceiling in an attempt to intimidate him. Hale’s wife who was present, confirmed to deputies that her husband retrieved a black handgun, waved it around, and discharged one round while yelling for them to leave. She told police it was one of the scariest moments of her life and that she had not known he possessed a firearm.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence and found a bullet hole in the ceiling with powder burns consistent with a gunshot. Investigators also located a spent 9mm shell casing, drug paraphernalia, $54,700 in cash, and packaging materials consistent with drug distribution, the affidavit states.

Hale, who has a prior felony conviction for dealing methamphetamine, initially denied firing a gun but later admitted to shooting into the ceiling and discarding two firearms outside. A police K-9 located a Ruger .22 caliber revolver and a Taurus G2C 9mm handgun near the residence. The 9mm was loaded and ready to fire, deputies reported.

During the search, deputies also found 125 grams of marijuana packaged in mason jars, further evidence of drug dealing, according to the report.

Hale was booked into the Monroe County Jail on charges of serious violent felon in possession of a firearm (Level 4 felony), intimidation with a deadly weapon (Level 5 felony), criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon (Level 5 felony), and dealing in marijuana (Level 5 felony).

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