Man accused of holding four people against their will, threatening to kill them

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A man is accused of holding four people hostage at knifepoint and threatening to kill them over his missing motorcycle, according to court records.

On February 14, St. Joseph County Police were called to a home on Douglas Road in Osceola regarding a person being chased by a man with a machete, reports said.

When officers arrived, they spoke with the homeowner who said Nathan Hansford held three people and her son in a pole barn while armed with a machete. When Hansford heard police were on their way, he fled the scene, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The homeowner told police she had allowed Hansford to park his RV on her property a few days ago to help him out.

The homeowner's son told police a man had come to the property and said he purchased a motorcycle from Hansford. Knowing Hansford had sold the man a motorcycle before, he allowed the man to take the motorcycle, according to the probable cause affidavit.

On Friday, the homeowner's son said he was in the pole barn with three others when Hansford came in upset about the motorcycle and was armed with a knife, reports said.

The victims told police Hansford told the homeowner's son he had until 10:30 a.m. to get the bike back or he had to give Hansford $700 and a 9 mm handgun, reports said.

Hansford told the homeowner's son if he didn't, Hansford would cut his head off, reports said.

Hansford then told the other three people in the barn if the homeowner's son didn't comply, they would all "meet their maker," reports said.

While in the pole barn, one of the victims began to cry. Hansford told her if she kept crying, he would kill her quicker, reports said.

Hansford also told the occupants in the pole barn they were going to die because of the homeowner's mistakes, reports said.

Hansford heard over an app that police were on their way to the residence and became angry. He chased the homeowner's son with the knife, but left the area when the female homeowner came out with a shotgun, reports said.

The female homeowner told police a woman was with Hansford before the incident, so police entered the RV to conduct a protective sweep, reports said.

Inside the RV, police located a substance that field tested positive for marijuana, a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a shotgun, and a large hunting knife - all in plain view, police said.

The victims identified the hunting knife as the knife Hansford wielded, reports said.

Hansford was located near the scene and taken into custody.

Hansford told police he woke up and discovered his motorcycle missing and learned the homeowner's son had allowed someone to take it, reports said.

He admitted to becoming upset with the homeowner's son, but said he only yelled at him before leaving the property, reports said.

Hansford later admitted to being armed with a knife when he entered the pole barn and yelled at the people inside, but denied threatening them with it, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The shotgun in his camper belonged to the homeowner's son, Hansford said. The homeowner's son admitted it was his, but said it was normally stored in the pole barn, reports said.

Hansford has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, intimidation, and four counts of criminal confinement.