Texas Man Charged In Dearborn Co With Intimidation, Pointing A Firearm

The incident took place in downtown Lawrenceburg on Thursday.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – A Texas man is being charged in Dearborn County for allegedly pointing a firearm following an incident at a Lawrenceburg restaurant.

Lawrenceburg Police responded to Strong’s Pizzeria on Thursday in regard to a male customer causing problems and yelling at employees.

The man, later identified as Joshua Richards, 37, of Houston, Texas, was asked to leave the property.

By the time Lawrenceburg Police responded Richards was no where to be found. A witness told police that Richards exited the restaurant, went to the truck of his vehicle and pulled a long object out of a case.

The same witness said they did not see a gun, but that Richards handled the object like a gun.

As officers were assisting frightened patrons leaving the restaurant, dispatch advised officers that a suspicious male was at an apartment building in Lawrenceburg swinging a gun around a silver passenger vehicle.

The man matched the description of Richards.

Officers spoke to a witness who stated Richards was swinging a long gun and then pointed it at a building across the street, then pointed the gun toward herself and other employees.

Richards was taken into custody and is charged with Intimidation (Level 5 Felony), Pointing a Firearm (Level 6 Felony), Theft (Class A Misdemeanor) and Public Intoxication (Class B Misdemeanor).

He will receive his initial hearing in Dearborn Circuit Court on Monday, November 18.