Homeless man killed after allegedly scratching suspect's car

Bell/Vigo County Jail

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News


Three witnesses, while on their way home from a local retailer, came across a startling discovery on the side of the road early in the morning as they traveled near Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute last week. They found the body of a homeless man left to die after just being shot in the head.

This afternoon, the Terre Haute Police Department made an arrest in the case.

Clarence E. Bell, 48, of Terre Haute, was booked into the Vigo County Jail today at 12:30 p.m. He is charged with murder and obstruction of justice.

The homeless victim, Raymond G. Rose, 37, was found dead just south of Wabash Avenue on S. 18th Street on Wednesday, Sept. 12 shortly after 1 a.m.

Police were initially called to the scene regarding alleged vehicle vandalism.

According to the documents,  the first witness said he watched the victim --- a tall, white and heavy set man, described as wearing a red shirt and drinking a bottle of peach vodka --- walk across and scratch Bell's 1963 Pontiac.  He called to report it to police and then walked over to the suspect's S. 16th Street resident to inform him of what had just occurred.

From  the time Bell received notification his car had been scratched to the time of the 911 call, Rose's time was quickly running out.

The witnesses who discovered the body on the road early that morning say they all got out of the vehicle to check on the unresponsive man. They attempted to ask him questions, to no avail. He did not appear to be breathing. One of them reportedly poked him and he did not respond, feeling cold to the touch. They called  911.

Rose was pronounced dead at a local hospital. ​

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by  Det. Keith Mowbray, of the Terre Haute Police Department,   the homeless victim was recently living in Gilbert Park before he was fatally shot during a confrontation with the nearby resident.

The dispute was ongoing between the suspect and victim, with tension building between the two.

In fact, one officer recalled how Bell earlier alleged he would shoot a homeless man he claimed kept coming onto his yard if he did it again.

Around the time of the shooting, another witness said he saw a fight between the victim and the suspect (Bell) -- whom he described as a dark brown-skinned man with a prosthetic leg. The witness said the suspect was "theatrical," waving a silver or chrome .22 handgun around at the time -- officials believe it was the murder weapon, according to the affidavit.

Detectives say that video surveillance from surrounding businesses aided in the case.

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