Redmond man arrested in school pellet gun scare

Redmond police arrested a 43-year-old man late Wednesday afternoon who was spotted lying in the grass and pointing what appeared to be a rifle at Obsidian Middle School – although it turned out to be a pellet gun, and he said he was shooting rock chucks.

Police responded around 4:45 p.m. to the school at 1335 SW Obsidian Avenue on a reported weapons offense, said Sgt. Hank Majetich. Dispatchers told officers a man was seen lying in the grass in front of the school, pointing a rifle toward the school.

Officers arrived to find Skip E. McDaniel of Redmond crawling in the grass in front of the school with what appeared to be a rifle. He was taken into custody without incident, Majetich said.

It was later learned the rifle was a pellet gun that “appeared to be an actual assault-type rifle with a scope,” Majetich said.

McDaniel told police he was shooting rock chucks on the property, in the direction of the glassed front area of the school lobby. No one was hurt, and no children were present at the time, the sergeant said.

McDaniel was taken to the Deschutes County Jail in Bend and booked on charges of reckless endangering and second-degree disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $7,500, and he was released Wednesday night.

Majetich said in a news release that police want to remind the community “it is unlawful for a person to intentionally possess a loaded or unloaded firearm or any other instrument used as a dangerous weapon, while in or on a public building. This includes public schools and the grounds adjacent to the schools.”

“It is also in violation of city ordinance to fire or discharge any gun or other weapon, including spring or air actuated pellet guns, or a weapon which propels a projectile by use of a bow or sling, explosives, or jet or rocket propulsion,” the sergeant wrote.

“It is unlawful to intentionally discharge a firearm, blowgun, bow and arrow, crossbow or explosive device within the city limits or within residential areas within urban growth boundaries or in the direction of any person, building, structure or vehicle.”

But officers said there is an exception for concealed handgun license-holders, among others, such as firing ranges.

Anyone who was on hand and witnessed the incident was urged to contact Redmond police through county dispatchers at (541) 693-6911.