Man faces stalking, recklessness charges

GOSHEN — A Mishawaka man is accused of firing a gun at a parked car before giving chase as it fled.

Deni Garcia, 35, is charged with stalking with a deadly weapon, a Level 4 felony, and criminal recklessness with a firearm as a Level 5 felony after his arrest Nov. 6. Police say he shot at an occupied car, which he claimed he did to get their attention.

He was booked in the Elkhart County Correctional Facility on $250,000 bond.

According to court documents:

An officer who was sitting in a parked vehicle witnessed a near-collision between a white car and a black pickup truck in front of 203 W. Pike St. A woman got out of the car and ran towards the officer, allegedly telling him, "He's following us, he's following us."

The truck pulled in to the parking lot and Garcia got out.

The woman told police that she has been trying to get away from Garcia but he keeps finding her, even when he shouldn't be able to. She alleged that he found her car in a hospital parking lot on one occasion and sent her a photo of it.

She said just before the near-accident she was parked at 2012 Lincolnway East when Garcia's truck arrived. She said as she was trying to leave she heard a loud noise that sounded like a possible gunshot hitting the vehicle.

Police inspected the car and found a possible bullet hole in the passenger-side rear fender. A projectile was lodged in the door frame.

Garcia allegedly told police that he got a text from a friend which told him the victim's location. He said he decided to stop there and speak with her, and fired a gun into the ground to get her attention, according to police.

Police say they found a Glock handgun in Garcia's truck.