A Bethlehem man was arrested after allegedly pointing a loaded AK-47 at three men.
The man, identified by Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies as Richard Eugene Hopkins, 50 of 877 Manning Gin Road, accused the men of cutting down trees on his property without permission.
The victims said Hopkins appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the incident. According to the victims, Hopkins kept the AK-47 pointed at them throughout the confrontation. The men advised that Hopkins did not bring the gun up to his shoulder to aim, but kept it leveled at them as if he planned to shoot from the hip.
When questioned at his home by deputies, Hopkins admitted confronting the men, but claimed he only took the gun as protection from raccoons. Hopkins claimed he had been bitten by a raccoon before and feared being attacked again. He later changed his story saying he took the weapon with him to intimidate the men who were cutting down his trees.
Hopkins also claimed one of the victims was armed with a handgun. Hopkins denied pointing the AK-47 at the three men saying he kept it pointed at the ground.
Deputies located the AK-47 in Hopkins’ bedroom. The weapon had 14 rounds in a magazine and one in the chamber.
Hopkins was arrested and charged with three counts of pointing a gun or pistol at another.
Winder woman stabbed while dancing
A Winder woman was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens on Dec. 30 for treatment of injuries sustained while dancing at a bar.
The victim said she was at a Clayton Street bar known as The Library when she inadvertently bumped into another woman. The victim initially thought the other woman had punched her, but then realized the woman had a knife.
According to the police report, the suspect said “Oh, I’m sorry” and ran into the crowd. The victim and her cousin later confronted the female. After nearly coming to blows, the women were escorted outside by security officers. When the officers failed to locate a knife on the suspect, they allowed her to re-enter the bar. The victim was subsequently transported to the hospital where she was treated and released.
The incident remains under investigation.
Man attempts to rob nail salon
A robbery attempt was foiled when the victim refused to give in to the robber’s demands.
A black male wearing a black jacket, gray hoodie and blue jeans entered a nail salon on Loganville Highway and asked an employee for paper to write a note. The woman gave the man a postcard and pencil.
In return, the suspect presented the woman with a note demanding money. The suspect wrote, “I have a gun. Give me $120. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
The employee said she did not have the money and told the man to leave. The suspect insisted she give him the money. Once again, the employee refused and the man left.
The employee told police that the suspect had been by earlier in the day asking for a job.
The incident remains under investigation.
