Weapons violation nets other charges

A 52-year-old man accused of shooting a gun numerous times at his Superior residence on the 4th of July made an initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Friday.

Anthony Andrew Knight faces misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm while intoxicated, disorderly conduct-use of a dangerous weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also faces a felony count of manufacture of marijuana stemming from an alleged marijuana growing operation found by Superior police officers when they searched his residence at 1010 Winter St.

According to the criminal complaint:

Superior police received a call about someone firing a gun in the area of Winter Street and Weeks Avenue at about 11:58 p.m. July 4. Witnesses said they had heard the gunshots for the last 15-30 minutes and had seen a man shooting a gun into the ground and pointing it into the sky in the front yard on the 1000 block of Winter Street.

Police found Knight sitting on a lawn chair near his porch. There was a silver pistol sitting in the cup holder of the chair. Knight had a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his mouth and a silver pipe with the odor of burnt marijuana was located in his back pocket.

Knight told officers he thought it was OK to shoot the ground on his own property because everyone else was shooting fireworks. He admitted to drinking four alcoholic drinks and having more guns in the house. Police entered the house after seeing a rifle and ammunition sitting on a table inside the house. They also saw what appeared to be a marijuana grow operation while checking for any other firearms.

Officers later executed a search warrant at the residence and found 33 4-foot tall marijuana plants growing in a bedroom of the residence as well as $4,900 cash in $100 bills.

Nineteen divots were counted in Knight’s front yard and spent .223 casings were found on the lawn.

Knight repeatedly told officers he thought it was OK to shoot his guns on his own property, according to Superior police reports.

Officer Jennifer Orn told him it is against the law to discharge a firearm within city limits whether you’re on your own property or not.

Cash bond was set at $2,000 with the conditions that Knight not use or possess any drugs, paraphernalia or firearms and that he not consume alcohol.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 18.

Superior Telegram

Tags: news, courts, crime, money