Bloomfield man charged with intimidation and pointing a firearm

When a rural Bloomfield man was in court today for an initial hearing, he was charged with two felonies. He’s accused of pointing a handgun and intimidating members of his own family during a birthday celebration.

Michael Anthony Kelly

Michael Anthony Kelly, 25, Bloomfield, was arrested and booked in to the Greene County Jail at 4 a.m. Sunday following a birthday party that started on Saturday night.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies Davis Aerne, the investigating officer, and Zachary Goad responded to a residence on South US 231 after dispatch received a call a little after 2 a.m.

The caller reported family and friends were having a birthday party, all adults had been drinking including Kelly, and he had grabbed a gun from a cabinet and aimed it at them. The caller said Kelly was bi-polar, had not been taking his medication and had also hit a pregnant family member earlier in the day.

The deputies talked to several individuals at the residence. Most had been sitting around a fire outside the house. One said Kelly was intoxicated and had started a scuffle with two people earlier then later told him he would shoot him, went inside, grabbed a gun from the cabinet, came back outside and pointed it at him.

Another man said Kelly had pointed the gun at everyone. A woman said they saw Kelly when he came outside with the firearm and was waving it in the air.

A couple of family members said they didn’t want to press charges, one adding she thought Kelly needed to go to the hospital to be mentally evaluated.

Deputies found a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber handgun with one bullet in the chamber and no magazine. They learned it was kept in a kitchen cabinet for varmints.

Deputy Aerne reported he was told when Kelly came outside with the gun, one man disarmed him and another helped restrain Kelly and hold him on the ground.

When Aerne talked to Kelly, he allegedly said he was beat up for no reason and he grabbed the firearm to protect himself. He allegedly admitted he grabbed the gun out of the cabinet and pulled it out saying, “I have a .22. I will shoot you in the leg.”

Kelly was transported to jail where his bond was set at $14,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.

During his initial hearing on Thursday morning, October 11, Kelly was charged with intimidation where the defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony, and pointing a firearm at another person, a Level 6 felony.

As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, he had not posted bond and was still in jail.