A 26-year-old Hillsboro man was arrested early Thanksgiving morning (Nov. 26) and is facing a felony charge after he allegedly flourished a weapon and threatened another man at the Crystal Tavern on Mississippi Avenue.
Crystal City Police Chief Chad Helms credited the tavern for getting the man outside and quickly calling police.
For years, there’s been a tradition in Crystal City the Wednesday before Thanksgiving when a large crowd of college students and others gathers at bars in the 100 block of Mississippi Avenue.
Helms said officers on foot patrol saw the man leave the bar about 1 a.m. and begin to yell obscenities at other people.
“He had made a verbal threat toward someone earlier in the evening inside the tavern,” Helms said. “He lifted his shirt (to show the weapon) and asked a subject if he ‘wanted some of this?’”
Helms said once the man was outside, he threatened the same person he had before.
“He lifted his shirt again and told the person to ‘come get some,’” Helms said.
As officers approached, another bystander tackled the man to the ground and officers arrested him. They found a loaded 9 mm handgun without a permit.
The man was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison, and on a misdemeanor count of carrying an open container of alcohol.
The man was released pending application of warrants.
No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.