Man arrested in Berthoud for firing weapon outside of Second Street business
By Amber McIver-Traywick
The Surveyor
Late Friday night, May 10, a former employee of the Lehman Printing Center in Berthoud fired a gun into the air outside the building after entering the facility looking for a previous supervisor who was not there at the time.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received reports of shots being fired at approximately 11:37 p.m. outside of 801 Second St. in Berthoud at the printing facility. The building where the incident took place also houses the Loveland Reporter Herald newspaper.
In a statement from LCSO Public Information Officer Marcus Simelane, the individual was identified as 35-year-old Rhett Williams of Longmont.
Linda Short, an employee of the Lehman Printing Center, was about to clock out and leave the building for the night when she said her coworker Casey Cole told her, “You don’t want to go out there, Rhett has a gun.” At that point Short said she went back to her department, locking herself in. Cole had communicated with Williams when he initially entered the building looking for the supervisor and was able to get him to return to his vehicle, Cole then returned to the building and locked the doors. “It was very stressful and I’m thankful for the quick thinking of Casey Cole,” Short continued.
Soon after the doors were locked shots were fired and the police were called. According to a statement from LCSO Berthoud squad, deputies found Williams armed with a shotgun in front of the business. As they approached, he turned, pointing the shotgun at deputies when they drove up, but immediately dropped the gun upon realizing it was the police. He was compliant with the officers and was taken into custody without further incident. There were no injuries or damage to the property according to a press release from LCSO.
Williams was booked into the Larimer County Jail on the allegations of three misdemeanors; class 3 reckless endangerment, class 2 prohibited use of a weapon, 2nd-degree criminal trespass, and three felonies; class 5 menacing, criminal attempt 2nd-degree assault on a peace officer, and criminal attempt 1st-degree assault.
Colorado court records show Williams previously had two DUI arrests made by Longmont Police in 2001 and 2007.
Updates on the situation will be given as more information becomes available. The charges against Williams are an accusation and he is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
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