BARTON — A Barton man who complained about frequent false alarms from a smoke detector near his kitchen, took it upon himself to relocate it with two shotgun blasts.
Leroy Mason, 68, is being charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, and reckless endangerment following the incident on Monday evening.
At around 5:00 p.m. police responded to a report of a situation in Barton involving the use of a firearm at a fire scene at 327 Main Street.
Police say Mason had fired a 20-gauge shotgun twice inside his apartment at his fire alarm, striking an adjoining wall to an occupied neighboring apartment.
Mason has complained in the past about frequent false alarms with the smoke detector and was upset that fire crews would not “relocate” the detector, police say.
Mason took it upon himself to relocate the device.
Mason rearmed himself with a Colt 45 handgun and went outside, actively pointing the pistol at first responders and demanding the return of his shotgun, police say.
There was a brief standoff between Mason and first responders before he was tackled and disarmed.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
Police say the shotgun had three unfired rounds left in the magazine, and one spent cartridge in the chamber.
A second spent cartridge was located on scene.
The pistol had a loaded magazine with seven rounds, but the chamber did not contain a bullet.
Mason was arrested on suspicion of felony aggravated assault with a weapon and misdemeanor reckless endangerment.
Judge Robert Bent ordered Mason jailed without bail pending his release to a court-approved adult supervisor.
He is scheduled to be arraigned at today at 1 p.m.
