Weapons charges filed in alleged threat

A 46-year-old Gardnerville Ranchos man in a wheelchair, accused of threatening patrons at a bowling alley bar with a loaded handgun, was jailed early Wednesday on weapons charges.

Deputies were called to Silver Strike Lanes at 1:23 a.m. for a report of an intoxicated man with a handgun.

Witnesses said the suspect had pointed the weapon at a man in the bar and other customers before leaving with another man in a sport utility vehicle.

Deputies located the vehicle in the 940 block of Whitney Way and had Charles Bernard and his nephew, Touradj Navai, in handcuffs at gunpoint.

A sergeant found a black snub-nose revolver underneath the front passenger seat. He said the hammer was cocked and a live round in the chamber. He removed five rounds from the chamber of the .38 special.

A witness said after an evening of drinking and "having fun," the suspect became upset and threatened to kill people he claimed were laughing at him.

The witness said he thought the gun was fake at first.

The bartender went into a backroom and called 911. When he came out, they were gone.

Bernard and Navai told officers they didn't argue with anyone. He denied pointing the weapon and said the gun had been under the passenger's seat for months.

Bernard was jailed on $25,500 bail on allegations of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.

He is to appear in East Fork Justice Court on Friday.