Man charged with assaulting wife with pistol

A 31-year-old man was arrested after he reportedly hit his wife in the face with a pistol.

Johnny Ellen was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (family violence), a second-degree felony.

The reported assault happened at 10:15 a.m. July 17 in the 1500 block of W. 19th Street, an Odessa Police Department probable cause affidavit stated.

Officers reportedly made contact with Suzon Ellen who stated that her stepson, identified as Johnny Ellen, had hit his wife with a gun.

Officers made contact with the victim, identified as Adrianna Ellen, who stated that she told her husband that she wanted a divorce, the affidavit stated. Johnny Ellen backed his wife into the wall of the kitchen, held a gun to her head, accused her of cheating on him and then struck her in the face with the pistol.

Adrianna Ellen reportedly described the gun to be a black handgun that looked similar to the one the officer was carrying. Adrianna Ellen believed the pistol to be a .45 caliber.

Suzon Ellen stated that she and her husband had seen their son with a black pistol in front of his house, the affidavit detailed.

Officers reportedly saw minor swelling and bruising on Adrianna’s top lip where she stated she was struck.

A search based off consent of the residence showed that in the master bedroom, along with Johnny Ellen’s other belongings, multiple. 45 caliber rounds of ammunition which coincided with Adrianna Ellen’s and Suzon Ellen’s statements, the affidavit stated.

When asked about the firearm, Adrianna Ellen reportedly told officers that her husband either took it with him when he left or hid the gun because he knew the police were being called.

Johnny Ellen was found driving in the area of West 22nd Street and Ventura Avenue, the affidavit detailed. A traffic stop was conducted and Johnny Ellen was detained on scene of the traffic stop. Johnny Ellen was read the Miranda warning and refused to speak with officers.

Johnny Ellen had one bond totaling $50,000 and posted bail on July 19, jail records show.