A Tarentum man who is not legally allowed to possess a gun was arrested early Wednesday after police said he fired shots in the air.
Tarentum police charged Thomas William Curt Mueller, 38, with two felony firearms charges and lesser charges.
In a criminal complaint against Mueller, borough police said officers responded to a call for shots fired about 2:40 a.m. in the 200 block of West Seventh Avenue.
Police said initial reports were that an extremely intoxicated man, later identified as Mueller, was banging on the door and window of an apartment.
When a person from another apartment went out and asked Mueller to leave, police said Mueller pulled out a gun and fired two shots into the air, then returned to his own apartment.
Police said arriving officers found Mueller sitting on the front porch. Officers approached Mueller at gunpoint and ordered him to put his hands in the air.
When Mueller raised his hands, police said officers saw a small handgun, a .22 mag revolver, concealed inside of an in-the-waistband holster tucked into the front of Mueller’s pants.
He was taken into custody and disarmed.
Police said they examined the gun and could tell two bullets had been fired.
Mueller is charged with carrying a firearm without a license; recklessly endangering another person; disorderly conduct; public drunkenness; and carrying a loaded weapon.
Police said Mueller is not allowed to have a gun because of a previous felony conviction and is therefore unable to obtain a concealed carry license.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, online court records showed Mueller was still awaiting a preliminary arraignment on the charges.
