An Arnold man has been accused of using a slingshot to fire metal ball bearings that damaged windows at two businesses in Arnold. Officers also allegedly found a suspected illegal substance in the man’s SUV when he was arrested, according to court documents.
Joseph Michael Patzius, 52, on Aug. 28 was charged with two felony counts of first-degree property damage, two felony counts of armed criminal action and felony possession of a controlled substance. He was released from jail on Sept. 3 and was scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 8, court and jail records show.
According to the probable-cause statement filed by Arnold Police, Patzius on Aug. 16 drove a 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara to the Walgreens pharmacy, 776 Jeffco Blvd.. He then shot ball bearings at the pharmacy, damaging a store front window while employees were inside the building.
He then drove across the parking lot of the plaza to another nearby business, Miken Technologies, 2132 Tenbrook Road. He allegedly used the slingshot to fire ball bearings at Mike Technologies and damaged a front vestibule window, the report said.
The cost to repair the damaged windows at both businesses is more than $750, according to report.
Arnold Police identified Patzius after reviewing surveillance video in the area, which allegedly showed that he was driving the Suzuki and the only person in the SUV. Police also allegedly saw Patzius purchasing a slingshot band and ball bearings in surveillance video that was obtained from a business on Aug. 11, the report said.
Arnold Police officers located Patzius on Aug. 27, and when they searched the Suzuki that was seen in the surveillance video, they allegedly found a slingshot, an empty package of ball bearings and four metal canisters that contained white crystal-like substance suspected of being a controlled substance, according to the report.
Patzius allegedly told investigators that he shot the ball bearings from the slingshot at random businesses while he was under the influence of “ice,” a term often used to describe illegal drugs. He also allegedly said everything found in the SUV belonged to him, the report said.