Felon Arrested After Pointing Rifle at Police

An Athens man was arrested after he confronted police with an empty rifle at Twin Oaks Apartment Sunday afternoon, according to reports.

Police arrived at Twin Oaks Apartments in response to a related case when the suspect's mother flagged them down. She said she had last seen her son heading towards another part of the apartment complex near Arch Street. After arriving near the indicated area, the officer started to approach a woman nearby for information when another man ran out of one of the buildings yelling that "someone had a rifle."

After drawing weapons, police approached the "B" building of the apartments and noticed David Harper, 47,standing in the grassy area near the back of the "A" building. Harper was holding a rifle near his waist. When officers saw that it looked as though Harper had loaded something into the rifle, police told him to put the gun down and get on the ground. While officers were still giving commands to get on the ground, Harper aimed the gun at one of the officers, according to the report.

Police retreated to the side of the "B" building for cover and noticed that Harper was moving towards them. After they arrived at the other side of the building, police saw another man in a yellow shirt. He was Harper's brother, running from the "A" building, yelling at Harper to "give him the rifle, to give [it] to him right now." After a minute, police observed that the man in the yellow shirt had taken the gun and was going back to the "A" building and that Harper was trying to leave the area. Police then ordered Harper to the ground and arrested him. 

Police reported the rifle belonged to Harper's mother's husband and had no bullets in it, according to the report. 

Haper was charged with aggravated assault by gun, possession of firearm by convicted felon and obstructing law enforcement. He was arrested and transported to Clarke County Jail.