GREENFIELD — A New Palestine man whose home was surrounded by county SWAT officers earlier this week now faces a charge of rape, among other sexual-assault related felonies, court records show.
Dustin Hunt, 41, was arrested late Monday after a woman reported the man trapped her inside his home and forced her to have sex with him, according to court documents.
The victim told police she got into an argument with Hunt at his home on county’s south side. During the exchange, he blocked every attempt she made to get out of the house, telling her that he only “would let her leave if she had sex with him,” according to court documents.
When the woman refused, Hunt forced himself on her, the victim told investigators, court documents state. At one point during the incident, Hunt pulled out a knife and threatened to harm himself, court documents state.
She eventually escaped and called 911, officials said.
Hunt now faces five criminal counts: one Level 3 felony count of rape; one Level 5 felony count of criminal confinement resulting in bodily injury; one Level 6 felony count of criminal confinement; one Level 6 felony count of domestic battery; and one Level 6 felony count of sexual battery.
Criminal charges were filed against Hunt Wednesday morning in Hancock County Superior Court 1. He was being held in the Hancock County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond at press time.
Hunt was arrested late Monday after members of the Hancock County SWAT team surrounded his home near the intersection of county roads 600W and 600S. The tactical team was on the scene for more than three hours and eventually used pepper spray to prompt Hunt to surrender, officials said.
The woman told police she went to Hunt’s home to collect some of her belongings around 3 p.m. Monday. Hunt was home at the time, and their argument eventually became physical, she told police.
Hunt took her cellphone and car keys, the woman said. She tried several times to run from the home, but Hunt blocked her every attempt, putting his body between her and the door, court documents state.
The woman said she tried to climb out of a kitchen window, but Hunt grabbed her, picked up a knife and threatened to harm himself, court documents state. She knocked the knife away, she said.
Hunt then told the woman he’d let her leave only if she had sex with him, the victim told police, according to court documents.
She said no, but he held her down and forced himself on her, the victim told police, according to court documents.
Hunt then handed over the woman’s car keys and cellphone, and she fled from the house, calling police from a nearby grocery store parking lot, court documents state.
Because of the threats Hunt made to harm himself and a concern that he might still be armed, the local SWAT team was called, police said.
Hunt was taken into the custody around 9 p.m. Monday and transported to an Indianapolis hospital for a precautionary psychiatric evaluation. He was released and booked into the jail around 3 a.m. Tuesday, records show.
The Level 3 felony count Hunt now faces carries a penalty of up to 16 years in prison. The Level 5 felony count he faces carries a penalty of up to six years in prison, and each Level 6 felony count he faces carries a penalty of up to 2.5 years.