MOUNTAIN PINE -- A Mountain Pine man being sought on a felony warrant for allegedly shooting another man on New Year's Day was arrested Tuesday afternoon while reportedly in possession of meth and cocaine.
George Alex Lewondowski, 38, of 107 Seventh St. in Mountain Pine, was taken into custody outside his residence around 2:45 p.m. and charged with first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years, and possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years.
Lewondowski was later released on $18,500 bond and is set to appear April 29 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the battery charge, on Jan. 1, Garland County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call of shots fired at Lewondowski's residence and arrived to find a man, age not released, with a gunshot wound to his lower right leg.
The man was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where he was treated in the emergency room.
Investigators arrived at the residence, the listed address for Lewondowski, and reportedly located two .380-caliber expended shell casings next to the house.
Witnesses said the victim had been outside yelling at Lewondowski who came outside and fired a gun multiple times. It was also noted the shooter had fled the scene before deputies arrived.
Investigators spoke to the victim at the hospital and he stated he and Lewondowski got into an altercation. He said he was outside the house and yelled for Lewondowski to "come out and fight like a man."
He said Lewondowski came outside and then shot him with what he believed was a .380-caliber gun. A warrant for Lewondowski's arrest was issued the next day.
On Jan. 4, the sheriff's department identified Lewondowski as a suspect in the shooting and asked for the public's help in finding him. Few details of the shooting were released at that time.
On Tuesday, shortly after 2:30 p.m., the sheriff's Tactical Response Team were attempting to serve a search warrant at Lewondowski's residence with the hopes of apprehending him.
Upon arrival, Lewondowski reportedly stepped outside the house via the front door and after being positively identified was taken into custody without incident.
He was searched and three baggies of what later tested positive for meth, a total of 14.6 grams were found in the pockets of his shorts, along with one baggie containing 1.2 grams of what later tested positive for cocaine.
Local on 04/18/2019