BROWNS VALLEY — A dispute in Browns Valley over grass clippings has left one man hospitalized and another man jailed on felony charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery by means of a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
Timothy Michael Florence, 53, 4689 W. Cross St., Browns Valley, was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail at 11:48 p.m. Sunday following a shooting that took place earlier around 8:33 p.m. in his next door neighbor’s yard.
According to court records, Florence allegedly shot Heath Evans, 55, with a Glock 9mm handgun as Evans was mowing the yard at the home he shares with his significant other Nicole Brann at 9375 S. C.R. 475W.
Evans was transported to an Indianapolis hospital by medical helicopter with life-threatening injuries. The bullet damaged his spleen, liver and lungs. He was listed in stable, but critical condition on Monday.
A probable cause affidavit filed Monday by Detective Jared Kirby with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office indicates Evans was mowing near the property line shared by Brann and Florence when he was shot once.
During the police investigation, Brann shared her cellphone video of the encounter between Evans and Florence. Court records indicate the video shows Florence with a leaf blower near Evans who was riding on a zero-turn lawn mower cutting grass. Evans was blowing cut grass off Brann’s property, while Florence was blowing the cut grass back towards Evans.
Florence can be seen on the video pointing a leaf blower at Evans. The video also shows Evans mowing in the direction of Florence, who then steps out of the way and again points the leaf blower at Evans, blowing air across Evans’ jacket front.
Florence is then seen going behind the mower to the other side of Evans, where he draws a handgun from a side holster and shoots Evans in the left side. A gunshot can be heard on the video.
The affidavit states Florence’s wife, Glenna, was inside their home at the time of the shooting and told police she heard the gunshot, went to her front door, and saw Evans leaning on the mower. She also saw her husband walking quickly back toward her. Glenna Florence told police her husband said, “Get in the house now, I just shot Heath.” Glenna Florence told police she believes her husband shot Evans in self-defense.
When police questioned Timothy Florence, he said he was worried about getting his feet cut by the mower blades, stating, “I was afraid for my life, and I shot him.”
Florence is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Prior to Sunday’s shooting, county deputies have responded several times to the Florence and Brann residences over property line disputes. Court records show that in 2023 Brann and the Florences were involved in a civil lawsuit over a fence and property access. That case was being mediated and some property was to be conveyed from Brann to the Florences, but that conveyance has not yet occurred.
In 2022, Timothy Florence was sentenced to a year’s probation resulting from a misdemeanor charge of battery resulting in bodily injury. The sentence ended in August 2023.
The investigation into Sunday’s shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information pertaining to this case, is asked to contact Det. Kirby at 765-362-3740.
The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by Crawfordsville Police Department, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Waveland Fire Department and Crawfordsville Fire Department.
