Second arrest: Linton man accused of threatening a child with a gun then ignoring order to drop his weapons

Two days after a Linton man was arrested for threatening behavior toward an ex-wife and also a police officer while armed with a gun, he was arrested again, this time accused of threatening a child while holding a gun, then getting into a tense situation in close quarters with an officer who had drawn his sidearm. The man ignored repeated orders to drop his weapons including a semiautomatic firearm and a crossbow.  

Richard Earl House

Richard Earl House, 30, Linton, was arrested on Wednesday evening, October 24, by Det. Paul Clark of the Linton Police Department. It was the second time House was arrested last week, actually the second time he was arrested within three days’ time.

Det. Clark was dispatched to a residence in Linton around 4:45 p.m. when LPD Dispatch got a call from a woman who reported a man was threatening several children with a gun. The woman said her children had been playing at a neighbor’s house but they came running home saying the neighbor child’s father was making threats with a gun. She said the neighbor child, that her children had been playing with, was also at her house saying their father was going to shoot them.

When Clark arrived at the neighbor’s residence on 14th Street NW, he learned the child who was reported to have said their father was going to shoot them was the child of Richard Earl House, also known as “Ricky,” and that the child lived at this residence with their grandparents.

While the officer was talking to an adult outside the residence, House came out of the residence carrying a black crossbow. House also had a large semi-automatic pistol holstered on his right hip. Clark said he couldn’t tell whether the crossbow was cocked or not. Clark drew his weapon and ordered House to stop and drop the weapon. House ignored the officer and walked toward a garage with an open door. Despite repeated commands to stop and drop the weapon, House entered the garage and attempted to close the overhead door. Clark reported he followed House into the garage and continued his commands.

According to Det. Clark, House was holding the crossbow in a position that allowed it to remain in a readily usable state. The officer also ordered House to not touch his gun. House allegedly said he was just putting the crossbow and the gun up, but Clark said House was moving his hands toward his gun. Clark moved into a position so he could see House’s hands and House continued to ignore the officer’s orders, reached down, grabbed at his gun and removed the holstered gun from his waist.

This tense situation ended with House being restrained and placed in the back of Clark’s patrol vehicle.

Det. Clark talked to two adults and two children while he was at the residence. One of the adults said House had been staying there, had been very angry and agitated since being released from jail and had gotten into an argument with the child over a cell phone. They said when House started yelling and cussing and calling the child names, and they told him to stop, House went into his bedroom and came back out carrying the handgun. House then loaded the gun and the adult said it was pointed slightly to the right of the child and the child may have felt it was pointed at them.

According to Clark, one child said House had pointed the gun at them, had hit them with a cell phone when House threw it at them, and that House was yelling at them while holding the gun in his hand. When they told him they were going to call the police, House allegedly said he was going to shoot any police who came on the property. They said at that point, children inside and children playing outside then ran to the neighbor’s house.

Clark said the other child he talked to was upset and crying and said House had pointed the gun at the other child.

When the officer interviewed House at the police department, House allegedly admitted he was angry and arguing with the child over the cell phone but denied pointing the gun at the child. However, he also allegedly said he could not remember all the details about what happened and said his memory was blurred.

Det. Clark reported the firearm was a .45 ACP caliber Ruger P90 semiautomatic pistol with a detachable magazine. The magazine contained ammunition and there was a chambered round when Clark unloaded the gun.

So, House was booked in to the Greene County Jail for the second time that week. This time his bond, for this new arrest, was set at $21,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. But when House appeared in court for his initial hearing on the first arrest, his bond in that case was revoked so House is now being held without bond.

During the initial hearing for the latest incident, before Judge Erik Allen in Greene Circuit Court, a public defender was appointed to represent House, Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw represented the State, House was advised in open court of no-contact orders being put in place, and House was charged with:

• Two counts of intimidation where the defendant draws a deadly weapon, both as Level 5 felonies, and

• Refusal to aid an officer, a Class B misdemeanor.

To find the previous story with details on the first arrest, click on the tag labeled “Richard Earl House” below this story.