A Lebanon man was arrested after allegedly pointing a pistol at a dog and its owner.
Officers from the Lebanon Police Department and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a male pointing a firearm at others in the parking lot of Mark Slough Trail, located at 33125 Tennessee Road, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at approximately 12:58 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers interviewed multiple witnesses who stated that Lebanon resident Jim Watkins had pointed a pistol at two individuals and a dog following an altercation between his dog and another. According to reports, after the dogs began biting each other, Watkins initially aimed his firearm at the other dog before turning it towards the owner, making verbal threats as they attempted to separate the animals.
A bystander who witnessed the incident confronted Watkins, at which time Watkins allegedly pointed the pistol at the witness and made additional threats. Watkins then left the scene in a vehicle, but was later located by officers. After briefly resisting arrest, he was taken into custody.
Watkins was booked into the Linn County Jail on two counts of unlawful use of a
firearm and two counts of menacing and resisting arrest. Amended charges from the district attorney dropped charges of resisting arrest and added two counts of pointing a firearm at another.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Officer Travis Boshart at 541.258.4337.