Brown County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47-year-old Joseph Steven West on Thursday for Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant after the suspect pointed a shotgun in a deputy’s face, according to jail records and a sheriff’s report.

Brown County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to a home in the Shamrock Shores area at 3:52 pm on what began as a harassment call, but became a civil standby, the sheriff’s report states. The deputy assisted a landlord who wanted to serve an eviction notice.

The tenant was not at home at the time deputies arrived, and the landlord said the tenant and her son sometimes went to a home across the street. The front door to that home was open, and deputies began to walk toward the it.

Deputy Brandon Arnold noticed a 20-gauge shotgun lying on a porch rail, prompting Arnold to unholster his pistol and walk onto the porch.  The deputies noticed through the crack between the door and the frame that a man was sitting in a chair just to the left of the door.

According to the report, Arnold announced “sheriff’s office,” and someone inside called out “come on in.” Because there was already a firearm involved in the situation, Arnold stayed outside and called out again, “sheriff’s office,” the report states.

Arnold saw the man stand up and move toward the doorway.  The report states that they could see the barrel of a gun as the suspect approached the door, and then the suspect brought the firearm up to his shoulder preparing to fire. 

The shotgun was pointed directly at Arnold’s face at a distance of two to three feet, the report states.

Arnold aimed his pistol at the man and was about to fire when the second man walked up behind the suspect.  The deputy did not shoot fearing that a bullet would strike the second man, the report states. Arnold took cover behind a refrigerator on the porch, and yelled for the man to drop the shotgun. After several seconds, the man with the shotgun placed the weapon on a chair and Arnold ordered both men out of the home.

Deputies later saw that the shotgun’s breach was open, and a shell was jammed in the feeding mechanism which occurs when someone does not properly seat a shell in the magazine and the shell pops backwards, the report states.

The report also indicates that the man showed signs of intoxication which was a likely factor in his inability to properly load the shotgun.

Deputy Arnold said in the report that he believes that if the weapon had not been jammed, it would have discharged, and at that close range, it would have seriously injured, if not killed him.

Other law enforcement reports and arrests released Friday, January 13, 2012

Wednesday, January 11

-10:00am – Brownwood Police responded to a report of attempted identity theft and embezzlement.   The complainant reported that and unknown suspect attempted to have money transferred from his bank account. 

Thursday, January 12

-8:00am – Brownwood Police responded to a report of theft in the 2000 block of Avenue B.  The complainant told police that someone stole multiple prescription drugs from her.

-10:02am – A complainant came to the Law Enforcement Center to report a possible theft.  The complainant reported that her WalMart gas gift card had been switched at the Murphy’s gas station on W. Commerce.

-12:50pm – Brownwood Police responded to a business in the 800 block of W. Commerce regarding theft.  The complainant told police that an unknown suspect stole a saddle off of a rack located outside.

-4:00pm – Brownwood Police responded to the report of assault family violence in the 2100 block of Center Avenue.  The victim told police that he was physically assaulted, and the police report notes minor injuries on the victim. 34-year-old Jennifer Cadena was arrested for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, according to jail records.

-4:45pm – Brownwood Police responded to the report of theft by check at a business in the 500 block of W. Commerce.  The complainant stated that suspects were attempting to pass a check on a closed account.

-6:25pm – Brownwood Police responded to a report of a terroristic threat in the 300 block of Bluffview. 

-11:49pm – Brownwood Police responded to a report of a hit and run accident in the 900 block of Riverside Drive in the parking lot of Duke’s Pub and Grub.   The report states that a picked struck two other vehicles as it attempted to leave the parking lot.

-Brownwood Police arrested 46-year-old Felix Barboza for Driving While License Invalid with Previous Convictions.

-Texas DPS Trooper arrested 30-year-old Javier Lozano of Fort Worth, TX for Possession of Marijuaua and 43-year-old Charles Whitaker also from Fort Worth, TX for Possession of Marijuana and Driver License/ID False.

All arrestees are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.