CROWN POINT | A Cedar Lake man facing multiple charges alleging death threats to his wife and schoolchildren pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday.
Von Meyer, 60, was appointed a Lake County public defender to represent him on four felony counts of intimidation as well as a single misdemeanor count of domestic battery and two misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement.
Lake County Magistrate Natalie Bokota also granted no-contact motions pending a hearing Jan. 2, setting Jan. 9 as Meyer's formal appearance.
Bail was set at $100,000.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Saturday, Cedar Lake police responded Friday to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 9000 block of West 133rd Avenue. Upon their arrival, Meyer's wife was found to have fled to a neighbor's house.
The woman told police Meyer had threatened to stab her with a screwdriver, gouge her eyes out and set her on fire.
Meyer proceeded to threaten with murder an adult daughter and son and also threatened to pick up a baby granddaughter by the hair and cut the child's head off, court records state.
Meyer is alleged to have told his wife he would have nothing to lose and would go on a rampage, kill everyone that ever angered him and "shoot up the school," killing as many people as he could until police killed him.
Court records state Meyer is believed to have been referring to Jane Ball Elementary School, which is near his home.
Police learned Meyer keeps multiple guns in the house, including four long guns and numerous handguns, court records state.
Meyer fled to a wooded area behind his home when police approached, according to court records. Police said Meyer ignored repeated orders to stop, then taunted officers from a concealed location in the woods.
In a joint news release issued Monday, Town Manager Ian Nicolini, Town Council President Randell Niemeyer and Interim Police Chief Gerald Smith stated a resource officer with the Hanover Community School Corp. was alerted as early as 6:30 a.m. Friday.
Additional police officers were sent to the school and patrols enhanced. The enhanced patrols will continue as long as the investigation continues, with Cedar Lake police working alongside other local law enforcement agencies, according to the town officials.
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