A Searcy County man is facing felony charges after neighbors witnessed a domestic dispute where he threatened to shoot his girlfriend.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the Marshall Police Department responded to residence for a report of a possible domestic dispute. Dispatch advised officers the caller stated they could hear a female screaming, “Put the gun down. Don’t hit me.”
Upon arrival, officers observed the victim in front of the home, visibly upset. She told officers the air conditioning had quit working in the home and was going to take her two kids to her parents home. As she was putting one child in her car, her boyfriend, identified as 26-year-old Javier Rivera, grabbed the other child an refused to give him to her.
The victim stated Rivera started to close the front door and she tried to hold it open to get her son. At this time, she could hear Rivera unzip a bag and heard what sounded like a gun being cocked. The victim told officers Rivera allegedly said he was going to “shoot her in the and watch blood splatter all over the porch.” The victim was unable to see the gun because it was behind the door, but believed it to be a 9mm handgun due to her having knowledge of it being inside the residence.
When officers spoke with Rivera for his account of the incident, he stated the air conditioning had stopped working and the victim wanted to take the kids to her parents house. He stated he told her “how many kids in the 1800’s or grandparents 30-50 years ago did not have air conditioning?” Rivera said the thermostat showed 80 degrees inside the home, but the victim felt it was dangerous for the kids. He said he felt it was “ridiculous since the fan is going and the door is open.” Rivera stated he did not say anything threatening.
Witnesses told officers they heard a female across from their back yard saying “put the gun down” and “you better not hit me.” The witness stated this scared her and called 911.
Rivera was booked in the Searcy County Detention Center on one felony count of terroristic threatening. He was released on $2,500 bond.
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