OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — A Seneca man is facing a hearing Wednesday on criminal charges related to an incident where he allegedly pointed a gun at another driver.

Court documents indicate 52-year-old Richard Lee Hetrick is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 1:30 p.m. on August 12 on the following charges:

– Firearms Not To Be Carried Without License, Felony 3
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2

He is currently free on $7,500.00 unsecured bail.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Oil City in early May.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 3:58 p.m. on May 5, Oil City Police were dispatched for a report of a man driving a white Dodge Ram truck pulling an enclosed trailer who had allegedly pointed a gun at another driver.

Police then initiated a traffic stop on the described vehicle on East First Street near Wilson Avenue.

Before the officers even exited the patrol vehicle, the driver of the truck had both of his arms sticking out of the driver’s side window. He was then ordered to keep his arms out where police could see them, the complaint notes.

As the officers approached, the man was asked to step outside the vehicle. He was then placed in handcuffs.

According to the complaint, as the man was being placed in handcuffs, he stated “the gun wasn’t even loaded” and told police it was in the console of the truck. He then reportedly asked what he was being arrested for and said he “didn’t do anything.” Sr. Patrolman Karns told the man he must already know since the officers hadn’t said anything to him yet about the gun.

The man was identified as Richard Hetrick.

Police then checked the vehicle and found a Ruger 9mm handgun and a magazine loaded with ammunition in the console, according to the complaint.

Hetrick was then questioned about the incident. He told police he was hauling a trailer with two ATVs in it, and somewhere near Reno, another vehicle began following him. He reported the vehicle sped up and got in front of him and wouldn’t let him pass it when he tried. He said he then thought someone inside the vehicle knew he had the ATVs and were going to run him off the road and steal them, the complaint indicates.

Hetrick said he then became scared and picked up his handgun and displayed it, but told police he didn’t point it at the other driver, according to the complaint.

When asked, Hetrick admitted he did not have a valid concealed carry permit, the complaint states.

Hetrick was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 9:50 a.m. on June 23.