Jordan

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man faces felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly threatening his neighbor with a shotgun.

Bennie Delmas Jordan, 55, of Buckhanon, is charged with attempt to commit malicious assault and wanton endangerment involving a firearm, both felonies, as well as person prohibited from possession firearms and brandishing deadly weapons, both misdemeanors. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $30,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Cpl. Tyler A. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on July 30, the Upshur County 911 received a call from a third party advising that Jordan was allegedly threatening a neighbor on Route 20 South Road in Buckhannon.

When the officer arrived on the scene, he entered through the backdoor of the residence, identified himself as law enforcement and called for Jordon, the complaint states. Gordon writes that he heard, what he later identified to be, Jordan placing a single-shot shotgun on the kitchen counter. As Jordan exited the residence, the officer observed an “arm band full of shotgun shells” on Jordan’s arm.

The caller invited the officer inside and pointed out the shotgun, which was loaded, according to the complaint. Jordan, after being read his Miranda Rights, reportedly admitted to the officer that he had been possessing the firearm to “scare the neighbor.”

According to the complaint, the caller informed the officer that she witnessed Jordan point the loaded firearm at the neighbor’s residence and stated that Jordan repeatedly “threatened to kill him.” She told the officer that she believed Jordan was “lying in wait” for the neighbor to return home.

The caller also said Jordan had made threats to kill the neighbor multiple times, pointed the shotgun at the neighbor’s residence, and was actively pacing around the space and watching for the neighbor to return home, the complaint states.

She added that, if law enforcement had not arrived when they did, she believes Jordan “would have hurt or killed the neighbor.” Gordon notes in the complaint that the caller was in emotional distress and feared for her and the neighbor’s safety.

According to the complaint, Jordan was reportedly “extremely intoxicated” at the time of the incident.