Chris Mueller

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

JUNCTION CITY - An elderly man posted a $5,000 cash bond and was released a day after he was accused of firing a handgun toward his neighbor, a Hmong woman who was working in her garden, and starting an armed standoff with police in Junction City.

Henry Kaminski, 80, was in custody Tuesday morning at the Portage County Jail but was released in the afternoon after he paid a $5,000 cash bond following a brief court appearance, according to court records.

Portage County District Attorney Louis Molepske, who spoke during the hearing, said the incident started when Kaminski began yelling and fired a gun toward his Hmong neighbors. His neighbors in the 1100 block of Main Street in Junction City reported the incident to emergency dispatchers shortly before 3:30 p.m. Monday.

“He was shooting toward a woman who was defenseless working in a garden,” Molepske said in an interview with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin following the hearing.

Kaminski made multiple derogatory comments toward Hmong people after he was arrested, including making the statement that "he didn't like Hmong people" and claiming "they were taking over Junction City," Molepske said.

RELATED: Suspect in custody after Junction City gunfire

RELATED: Police respond after gunshots in Junction City

Kaminski was taken into custody shortly before 6 p.m. after heavily armed officers surrounded his home. No one was injured during the incident, but Kaminski fired multiple shots in the presence of his neighbors and officers, Molepske said.

The shooting drew numerous emergency vehicles, including an armored vehicle, to the area. Traffic was shut down for hours in the village of fewer than 500 people. Neighbors were evacuated from their homes while officers surrounded Kaminski's home.

Kaminski is expected to be charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, operating a firearm while intoxicated and disorderly conduct. He also could be charged with possession of marijuana, manufacturing marijuana and possession of child pornography based on a search of his home by officers after the standoff, Molepske said.

If prosecutors determine Kaminski committed any of the alleged crimes because of the victim's ethnicity, he could face harsher penalties, Molepske said. Kaminski was ordered not to have contact with the victims or possess any alcohol or drugs, or any firearms or other dangerous weapons as a condition of his bond.

Kaminski was taken to the hospital after he was arrested and bragged to paramedics about how much alcohol he drank, and later made lewd comments toward nurses and officers at the hospital, Molepske said.

Kaminski, who appeared in court by video from the jail, put his face in his hands for a time during the hearing. Kaminski doesn't have a prior criminal record. He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 20 to face charges.

Chris Mueller: 715-345-2251 or christopher.mueller@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @AtChrisMueller.