A Butler man accused of shooting his neighbor's door will remain behind bars without bond following his preliminary hearing Monday.

Larry Alexander, 49, appeared virtually for his hearing before District Judge William Fullerton, during which Alexander's public defender, Michael McFarland, asked for some form of bond to be given after the completion of drug, alcohol and mental health evaluations.

“My hope is we can get him evaluated and revisit it,” McFarland said.

Butler City Police arrested Alexander Friday morning and have charged him with a felony for firing a gun inside an occupied structure, felony unlawful gun possession and misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

No one was injured in the alleged shooting.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Zanella said it is uncertain whether Alexander poses a threat to the public, and the lack of bond should remain until that is determined. He said he was open to revisiting the issue.

“I think at this point, the no-bond is appropriate,” he said.

Fullerton issued no bond following Alexander's arraignment Friday. A note on court documents gave the reason of assuring the community's safety.

“I think at this point to set up some vague, unspecific bond conditions would be counterproductive,” Fullerton said Monday.

The city officer who filed the charges, Andrew Niederlander, testified Monday regarding the situation that involved a heavy police presence in the early morning hours Friday at the Greenview Gardens apartment complex.

Niederlander said about four residents called police to report hearing multiple gunshots. He said police were dispatched about 3:17 a.m. to the complex, and city police arrived about three minutes later.

Niederlander said about 12 officers responded to the call, a group which included officers from Butler Township and state police.

Niederlander said police remained outside while trying to make contact with Alexander, who they could see pacing in a third-story hallway.

Niederlander said it took 30 to 45 minutes for Alexander to surrender. He said during that time, Alexander made a few statements related to the incident. The first was that he had used cocaine and the second was he was trying to help a woman.

“He admitted he felt he was trying to save a female (he believed) was kidnapped inside the apartment,” Niederlander said. “We found no female in distress or anything.”

During cross-examination, McFarland established that it was unclear whether Alexander had been read his Miranda rights before those statements were made.

Niederlander said officers then spoke with witnesses, including a resident whose door allegedly was shot by Alexander. The officer said the man heard multiple pounding noises on his door, and when he looked through the peephole, he saw Alexander, who lives in the apartment directly below him.

Niederlander said the man told him he then heard a gunshot and retreated further into the apartment. According to the officer, a bullet was found lodged in the steel door, and it was photographed, but unable to be retrieved.

“It was dead-center in the door,” Niederlander said.

Niederlander also said the pistol, a .357 revolver, did not belong to Alexander, but it was found in Alexander's apartment with an empty shell in one of the chambers. He said Alexander is a convicted felon and that makes it illegal for him to possess a gun.

All three charges were held for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. Alexander will next appear Oct. 26 for a formal arraignment in county court.