EVANSVILLE, Ind. — An Evansville man accused of firing a gun into his neighbors’ yard and toward their dogs reportedly told police he was trying to get the neighbors’ attention about parking.

Paul Martin, 67, was arrested on preliminary charges of criminal recklessness, intimidation and trespass Wednesday afternoon.

Deputies with Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office were called to Huebner Lane and North Green River Road about 12:40 p.m. Wednesday for a shots fired run. A 911 caller told dispatchers their neighbor shot at the ground near their dogs.

The neighbors and Martin had an agreement about using Martin’s property for overflow parking, according to the probable cause affidavit, but he told deputies it had recently “turned into an ongoing problem.”

Martin allegedly came home to find a pickup parked on his property and decided to confront his neighbors, but did not want to approach their home because of their dogs. Martin told deputies the dogs charge at him and their fence when he comes outside.

He reported shooting into the air twice “to get their (the neighbors’) attention,” a detective wrote in the affidavit. The dogs and neighbors came outside and Martin allegedly shot at the ground in front of the dogs three times.

Deputies reported finding a shell casing near the spot where the properties met and several casings on the dogs’ side of the fence. According to the affidavit, they also found fresh bullet holes in the ground in the middle of the neighbors’ driveway.

Martin accused the neighbors of cursing at him and pushing him after he fired his gun near the dogs. Both neighbors told police they told Martin to leave but did not physically confront him. The neighbors were not taken into custody.

Martin was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. His bond was set at $7,500 cash during a probable cause hearing Thursday.

He is scheduled to return to Vanderburgh Circuit Court for an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Tuesday. According to court records, Martin is not allowed to contact the neighbors or be on their property if he posts bond. He is also banned from possessing firearms.

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