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Police: Beer, Drugs, Bow, Arrow = Bad Mix

Two Men Injured In Alleged Western Slope Domestic Violence

POSTED: 9:40 am MDT June 7, 2004

A combination of prescription drugs and beer may be to blame for a domestic violence incident near Paonia, Colo., Sunday that also involved a shotgun, bow and arrow and house fire.

Delta County authorities were still trying to sort out what happened early Sunday morning that resulted in two men being hospitalized with injuries.

According to detectives, Merl Mitchell, 41, showed up at a home on the property armed with a bow and arrow and threatened his wife Debra, 45, and Michael Steven Crawford, 33 around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators said the wife and friend were able to wrestle the bow and arrow from Merl Mitchell and Debra Mitchell went to a second home on the property to call 911. While she was gone, Merl Mitchell allegedly set fire to the first house and to her van parked outside.

While Debra Mitchell was calling 911 from the second house, she heard a shot.

Investigators said that Merl Mitchell had gained access to a shotgun kept at the first house and shot Michael Crawford.

Crawford was transported to a local hospital then airlifted to a Grand Junction hospital before being airlifted again to a Denver hospital.

Merl Mitchell was also airlifted to a Grand Junction hospital with a head injury.

The first home sustained fire and smoke damage and Debra Mitchell's van was totaled.

Merl Mitchell faces possible charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault, assault with a deadly weapon, arson, domestic violence, felony menacing and criminal mischief.

Investigators said beer and prescription drugs may have contributed to the violence.

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