(KMOV) --An East Alton man has been charged with "aggravated unlawful discharge of a firearm" and domestic battery.
Monday night, police responded to reports of shots fired in the 500 block of Maple Street in East Alton. Deputies located several rifle shell casings on the back deck of John Winship's residence.
Authorities say they could not contact Winship, so secured the area around his home. After speaking with Winship on the telephone a few hours later, officers report seeing his garage door open. A deputy says he then watched him walk into the garage, back into the house, and return to the garage in about a 10 minute span. The deputy confronted Winship and wrestled him to the ground and cuffed him when he would not cooperate.
Two firearms were found in the home, one of which was a semi-automatic rifle. Homes are near the area where police believe Winship was firing a semi-automatic rifle, but no injuries were reported.
Winship's wife later reported that he had battered her on August 29, and that she had left the residence earlier on August 30.
John Winship is being held on $75,000 bond.
