INDIANAPOLIS -- A murder suspect found in an alleged "trap house" – along with drugs and guns – was released from jail Saturday after a Marion County judge found there was no cause to hold him.
John Means, 24, was released from jail for the second time this month over the weekend following his arrest on charges of dealing marijuana, possession of a narcotic drug and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
Prosecutors requested Means – who is awaiting trial on murder charges in connection with the fatal January 2014 shootings of Tyrece Dorsey and William Davis – remain in custody at the Marion County Jail. Judge Grant Hawkins denied that request, finding there wasn't sufficient probable cause to hold Means.
Means was ordered released from jail earlier this month following his acquittal in the murders of Carlos Jefferson and Julius Douglas. Prosecutors accused Means of being a hitman for the alleged criminal organization the "Grundy Crew." Murder charges were dropped against the group's alleged ringleader, Richard Grundy III, after a key witness was found to have lied about her identity to police.
MORE | Fresh off his acquittal in a double murder trial, John Means arrested on drug charges | Alleged 'Grundy Crew' hitman found not guilty in double murder | Prison inmate charged in 2 Indy double homicides | Prosecutor: Killings were murder-for-hire plot
Just four days after his release, Means was arrested when police serving an unrelated warrant found him and four other individuals inside a house with bags full of marijuana and three guns.
A probable cause affidavit released Monday unveiled new details about that arrest.
A Marion County Sheriff's deputy serving an arrest warrant on a felony robbery charged knocked on the door of a home in the 500 block of North Gray Street, only to hear "fast movements and the sound of the door being barricaded.
One of the individuals inside the home eventually opened the door, whereupon officers found Means along five four others – Antell Garnett, 30, Dominique McClendon Cortez, 26, Michael L. Robinson, 18, and Paul D. Rose, 44.
Officers also reportedly saw marijuana, scales and a handgun in plain view of the door.
After obtaining a search warrant, police located four bags full of marijuana throughout the house, along with a box of Girl Scout cookies full of individually packages bags of marijuana.
Police also found three handguns located in the home's cold air intake vent: a 9mm Taurus; a .380-caliber Ruger; and a .40-caliber Glock 27.
Additionally, Garnett was found to have $2,150 in cash in his pockets. Another $2,445 in cash was found in Cortez's pockets.
While in custody at the Marion County Jail, Means was reportedly overhead yelling to another inmate that, "I had a Glock 27, but they couldn't charge me with it."
A deputy standing nearby asked Means, "You know you just admitted to me that you had a gun?" To which Means reportedly replied: "It doesn't matter. I'm already getting out."
Means was released from jail on Saturday without bail. Prosecutors filed an amended affidavit Monday asking the judge to reconsider the case and order Means to be taken back into custody.
The charges against Means and his four co-defendants remain pending. A pre-trial conference was scheduled in regards to the charges against Means for March 28.
No trial date has yet been set for the charges against Means in connection to Dorsey and Davis murders.
Marion County prosecutors have described the "Grundy Crew" as a "dangerous gang intent on distributing drugs & promoting violence." Read more of our coverage about them here:
Prosecutor: 7 killed by 'Grundy Crew' since 2013 | 'Grundy Crew' accused of murder, drug dealing | PHOTOS: Alleged members of the 'Grundy Crew' | Cocaine dealing charges dropped against 'Grundy Crew' member in plea deal | Murder charges dropped against alleged 'Grundy Crew' leader
