Gun ownership is an American right, but critics say they shouldn’t be brandished before the surprised expressions of small children.
In a weird turn of events, the wife of Republican Alabama commissioner was arrested after she reportedly pulled a gun on another woman at a recent children’s softball tournament in Florida.
AL.Com reports April Dawn Wilks, the wife Geneva County GOP Commissioner Bart Wilks, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, and improper exhibition of a firearm, a misdemeanor over her eagerness to wave a weapon at a kid’s game.
Police said officers were called to Frank Brown Park at around 6:49 p.m. on June 6 after a woman from Perry, Florida, told police she and her children were walking in the parking lot at the sports complex when Wilks allegedly approached and began yelling at her, according to reports.
According to charging documents, multiple witnesses told police they saw Wilks pull out of the stadium parking area after backing up to where her female victim was standing. She then whipped out a black and silver revolver, pointed it at the victim and said, “I can back it up.”
Wilks then fled the scene.
Police report Wilks pointed her weapon “at the victim and her children.”
According to AL.com, the dispute arose during the game over a disagreement on calls made on the field.
“It is to be noted that the victim stated she feared for her safety and believed the defendant was capable of immediately carrying out the threat,” according to the police report. “Based on the victim’s statement and witness statements, [Wilks] actions created a well-founded fear in the victim that violence was imminent.”
Local news reported that police spoke with the commissioner himself about the incident—who had been attending the game with his wife and child.
He told officers his wife had left to get food and was on her way back, but after 30 minutes of her not arriving back to the sports complex, police and Commissioner Wilks tried to reach the suspect by phone but she did not answer.
Wilks was booked into the Bay County Jail earlier this week and is out on bond.