UPDATE (Saturday 5:44 pm): Indiana state representative attacked in Carmel

By Associated Press

Publication Date: 10/30/2009

Carmel - An Indianapolis man is facing attempted murder and other charges in the beating of a state representative Saturday morning.

A woman called police around 10:15 a.m. Saturday, stating she saw someone she knew that appeared to be in trouble on Catherine Drive in Carmel. When officers arrived, they saw a man, later identified as 38-year-old Augustus J. Mendenhall, on top of another man, punching him in the head.

Mendenhall ran when he saw police approaching. After a short foot chase, he was shot with a stun gun by police and taken into custody.

The victim was identified as State Rep. Edward DeLaney, 66, who represents the 86th District in the state legislature. He was taken to the hospital with injuries to his head and face.

"Under the circumstances, he's been doing very well," DeLaney's wife, Ann, told the Indianapolis Star.

Ann DeLaney said her husband had never met Mendenhall before Saturday and believed he was a prospective client to purchase some land and was seeking legal advice. Rep. DeLaney is also a lawyer, partnering with his wife and daughter in the law firm of DeLaney & DeLaney.

Mendenhall was transported to the Hamilton County Jail after being checked out and released from Carmel St. Vincent's Hospital. Police recovered a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun when Mendenhall was taken into custody.

He faces felony charges of attempted murder, robbery, aggravated battery and criminal confinement, in addition to a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement.