A Marion County man was arrested after deputies say he spray-painted a woman’s vehicle, punctured a tire and later sent her a series of threatening text messages that included references to bullets, death and “seeing Jesus.”
David Ray Carlisle, 46, was arrested Oct. 2 on charges of making a written or electronic threat to kill or cause bodily harm, a felony, and criminal mischief causing less than $200 in damage, a misdemeanor, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
Deputies were initially called to a Marion County residence in reference to criminal mischief. The woman told deputies Carlisle had allegedly spray-painted her vehicle, written an obscenity on it and stabbed the front passenger tire with a knife, causing it to deflate.
According to the affidavit, a deputy observed silver lettering and spray paint across portions of the vehicle, along with writing on a rear window. The deputy also found what appeared to be an approximately one-inch puncture in the tire.
The investigation took a more serious turn when the woman showed deputies a text conversation she said followed a confrontation with Carlisle.
According to the affidavit, Carlisle allegedly sent several threatening messages, including one telling the woman that if he saw her, he would put “bullets” in her head. Other messages allegedly referenced her children seeing their mother with “lead in her head” and told her to “be prepared to see Jesus.”
Deputies said Carlisle later sent a photograph of a hunting rifle bearing the marking “Mohawk-600.” In the same conversation, he allegedly made statements that caused the responding deputy to become concerned not only for the woman’s safety, but Carlisle’s as well.
After developing probable cause for an arrest, deputies left the residence to search locations where Carlisle was believed to frequent. They were later notified that he had returned to the property and run into a shed.
Deputies returned with additional law enforcement officers because they did not know whether Carlisle had access to the rifle pictured in the messages.
After Carlisle was taken into custody, deputies said he was advised of his rights and questioned about the allegations. According to the affidavit, Carlisle said he would never actually carry out the threats he sent and told deputies he had been depressed but would not act on statements he made about harming himself.
When asked about the rifle, Carlisle reportedly told deputies it was in the woods near a barn on the property and had a spent round next to it because he had fired it earlier that day.
Carlisle also allegedly acknowledged the confrontation that preceded the threatening messages. When questioned about the criminal mischief allegation, he reportedly responded, “But she’s done it to me too.”
The deputy estimated the damaged tire was worth approximately $85. The woman did not provide a monetary estimate for the spray-paint damage, according to the affidavit.
Carlisle was arrested at the residence and listed as being held without bond on the charges at the time the affidavit was completed.
