By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
A Hays man faces assault and child endangerment charges after allegedly threatening a Hays couple and their 9-month-old child with a gun.
At around 7:20 p.m. April 9, officers responded to a report of a man who had made the threat in 200 block of West Fifth.
The incident began after the male victim confronted the suspect outside of his home as he had caused a disturbance outside that had woken a sleeping child inside, according to Brian Dawson, Hays deputy chief of police.
In response, the suspect threw a beer can to the ground, pulled out a handgun, cocked the weapon and asked the victim what he had said.
He then pointed the weapon at the male victim's face and commented "Now you ain't got s*** to say," Dawson said.
The suspect then picked up the beverage and continued walking east, he said.
Arriving officers located the suspect, identified as Justin Isaac Schmidt, 25, Hays, coming out of a nearby residence.
When approached, Schmidt fled on foot, but was taken into custody at gunpoint by officers a short time later.
The gun used in the incident was found inside the home, Dawson said.
Schmidt was arrested on suspicion of three counts of aggravated assault, aggravated endangerment of a child, felony interference with law enforcement and possession of a firearm while under the influence.