Springfield police began their investigation when they responded to a home on the 500 block of Hazelbrook Avenue after a caller reported a man had shot into a crowd. There, they made contact with a suspect in the shooting, according to a police report, and ordered the man to come outside.
Police say when the suspect opened the door, a male boxer dog got outside and bit an officer on his upper left thigh. The officer who was injured was eventually taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center where he was treated for two small puncture wounds to his inside upper left thigh.
The suspect in the shooting, Les Prether, 51, was charged in Clark County Municipal Court with aggravated menacing, using weapons while intoxicated and discharge of firearm on or near prohibited premises.
Prether was taken into custody and asked whether he shot a gun, which he first denied to officers, an affidavit says. However, after being placed in a police car he changed his story, the affidavit says.
EXTRA: Springfield police investigate shots fired incident
“He advised that he was just trying to break up the fight between his girlfriend and his daughter and was not trying to hurt anyone,” the affidavit says. “Mr. Prether advised that he only shot the gun into the air and never pointed it at anyone.”
Witnesses at the scene said they heard three or four gunshots, the affidavit says.
A next court date in the case had not been set Monday.
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