WINONA LAKE — A Winona Lake man was arrested after he shot a handgun into the air, pointed the handgun at two adults and two children and threatened to shoot them.

Matthew Payne

Matthew Payne, 48, 2607 Huffman St., Winona Lake, is being charged with two counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon, level five felonies; and two counts of pointing a firearm, level six felonies.

On Nov. 5, an officer with the Winona Lake Police Department responded to a subject pointing a handgun at individuals and firing the gun into the air at Payne’s residence.

A male subject advised his girlfriend and her two children went to the residence to check on a child. When they arrived, Payne exited the residence with a handgun, shot in in the air and pointed it at the four of them. According to the girlfriend, Payne told them, “You better leave now or I’ll shoot you.” The victims left the residence and called the police.

Payne told the officer that he observed people in front of his residence so he grabbed the handgun and shot it in the air. The officer was able to locate two guns inside the trunk of a vehicle in the garage. A spent casing was also located in the front yard of the residence.

Payne was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Nov. 5, with a $10,250 surety and cash bond.