FREMONT, IN - The Steuben County Sheriff's Office is investigation a report of a battery causing serious injury that occurred at a residence in the 200 block of South Pleasant Street in the Town of Fremont.

On 01/06/2023 at around 4:30 pm, Steuben County Sheriff's Communications received a call from a female indicating that a male subject had been assaulted at her residence and she witnessed the attack, which occurred earlier in the day at around 10:30 AM.

Fremont Police initially responded to the report and then requested assistance from the Steuben County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's detectives then responded to the Pleasant Street address and took over the investigation. Preliminary investigation determined that a 39 year old male victim was allegedly attacked inside the residence by the former boyfriend of the witness. The witness was also allegedly assaulted during the incident. The attacker then fled the scene.

During the attack, the male victim sustained multiple serious injuries to his face and was later transported to a Fort Wayne area hospital for treatment where he remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition. The female witness was not injured during the incident.

The suspect was identified as 33 year old Levi Lowell Pifer of rural Fremont, IN. A subsequent search for Pifer was conducted by Sheriff's detectives which led them to a residence in the 6400 block of North CR 300 W in rural Jamestown Township. Sheriff's detectives then made contact with Pifer's mother at that location who provided a contact number for Pifer. Detectives then made telephone contact with Pifer who agreed to speak with detectives at the Sheriff's Office.

Following an interview with Sheriff's detectives, Pifer was taken into custody and booked into the Steuben County Jail on one count of Domestic Battery, a class A misdemeanor and one count of Aggravated Battery, a level 3 felony. Pifer remains held without bond pending an initial court appearance. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and additional charges may be sought.

Assisting the Sheriff's Office at the scene were the Fremont Police and the Indiana State Police.

**Any criminal charge is merely an accusation. The Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.**