Bond denied in gun case
A 45-year-old Butler man, who allegedly smoked crack-cocaine, said he took his wife's pink pistol Wednesday morning and emptied a clip into his drug dealer's residence, Butler police say.
Michael J. Smith, 45, faces eight counts, including five felonies and three misdemeanors.
Hours after being arrested, Smith appeared in district court Wednesday, handcuffed and wearing a red jail jumpsuit. He was arraigned by District Judge William Fullerton in Butler.
Smith is charged with attempted homicide, firearms not to be carried without a license, firearms not to be possessed by a convicted felon, two counts of aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Police responded to a possible suicide early Wednesday, but instead arrested Smith after further investigation.
Police said Smith had the smell of liquor on his breath when they first spoke to him. He allegedly told police that the victim had delivered $30 worth of crack cocaine to his house on Summer Street the evening before.
After allegedly smoking the crack, Smith suspected that the 43-year-old victim had stolen one of his wife's guns and after failing to recover the gun, Smith took his wife's pink Taurus pistol and shot at the victim's house in the 100 block of Walker Avenue.
Police recovered five bullet casings outside of the house and two bullets in the side of the home. One bullet was lodged into a wall inside the structure, where the victim was sitting at the time of the shooting. The victim's sister was also in the house.
Fullerton denied setting a bond over safety concerns about Smith, who was out on parole for a previous conviction.
“Given the nature of your criminal history, I don't think any combination of bail or bond will ensure your appearance in court and community safety,” Fullerton said.
Afterward, Smith pressed his head down onto a table. He turned to city police officers who were present at his arraignment and asked them, “With the charges, how bad does it look?”
They suggested he apply for a public defender to represent him.
