An Owensboro man is facing multiple felony and drug-related charges after a Thursday incident during which the victim was threatened and struck in the foot by shrapnel when a firearm was discharged into the sidewalk.
Harold Sanders, 60, faces the following felonious charges:
- Wanton endangerment, first degree
- Possession of controlled substance, first degree (second offense – cocaine),
- Possession of controlled substance, first degree (first offense – methamphetamine)
- Trafficking in marijuana (first offense)
- Assault, second degree
- Disorderly conduct, second degree
- Terroristic threatening, third degree
The following information regarding the incident is all according to the citation:
Owensboro Police Department responded to the 700 block of Walnut Street at 3:39 p.m. Thursday regarding a physical disturbance between Sanders and the victim.
Officers arrived and observed Sanders on the porch yelling at the victim, who was on the sidewalk.
The parties were separated and officers were advised by three people that a firearm was discharged during the altercation. Officers observed what appeared to be a fresh scar in the concrete that was indicative of a firearm being discharged.
As officers were investigating, Sanders continued screaming. Sanders was requested to be quiet multiple times due to the number of neighbors outside watching the incident who all appeared to be alarmed.
Sanders threatened to commit a crime likely to result in the death or serious physical injury to another.
Officers asked Sanders if he knew about a firearm that was involved, to which he replied that “you ain’t gonna find it, go look in my bedroom,” where they were given verbal consent to search by Sanders and Ms. Sanders (the homeowner).
The victim advised officers that Sanders discharged a handgun at the victim’s feet on the sidewalk. The victim further advised that Sanders approached him on the sidewalk, already brandishing the firearm, and raised the weapon up toward the victim’s face.
A witness advised that Sanders had a camouflaged 9mm pistol and discharged it into the sidewalk at the victim’s feet.
The report states Sanders manifested extreme indifference to the value of human life when he engaged in conduct that created a substantial danger of death of serious physical injury to another.
The victim advised that either concrete debris or bullet fragments had caused a small laceration on his right foot near his ankle.
The report states Sanders intentionally caused physical injury to another by means of a deadly weapon.
Sanders was detained and placed in handcuffs while officers searched and investigated. He was read his Miranda warnings and declined to speak with officers.
While searching Sanders’ bedroom on consent, officers observed a large ziplock bag in plain view containing multiple clear baggies, each containing suspected marijuana ready to sell.
While continuing to search the bedroom attempting to locate the handgun, a black fanny pack capable of concealing a firearm was observed. Officers opened the bag and located two glass smoking stem pipes, with a heavy amount of suspected cocaine residue where a Brillo pad was found next to the pipe, consistent with consuming cocaine.
Officers also located two black digital scales in the same black bag. Officers then located in a side zipper pouch a single glass smoking pipe with a heavy amount of suspected methamphetamine residue.
Officers located another black zipper pouch next to the fanny pack, and when it was moved the officer heard what sounded like ammunition inside. The officer searched the pouch and found multiple 9mm rounds.
More rounds of ammunition were also found on Sanders’ dresser.
The report states that all items found in reference to multiple individual baggies of suspected marijuana and black digital scales are indicative of an ongoing trafficking operation.
The officer seized all items and submitted a request for suspected methamphetamine and cocaine residue be sent to KSP for lab testing.
