A Uniondale man was arrested early yesterday morning for allegedly shooting an assault-type rifle into the air and ground in an attempt to get trespassers off his lawn.

Police said that after a large group of men got into a verbal altercation on George Grier's front lawn at 393 Northern Pkwy. around 8 p.m. Sunday, he asked them to leave. After the men ignored his demands, police said, Grier emerged from his home with a loaded AK-47-style rifle, and fired rounds into the ground and air. There were no injuries.

Police arrived on scene, responding to a ShotSpotter notification. Grier, 30, was arrested at 12:30 a.m. Monday. The gun has been recovered, police said.

Grier's sister, Caprice Rines, said that Grier feared for the safety of his wife and two daughters, ages 1 and 2, after two of the men in a group continued to argue and would not leave. Rines said there were 20 men who were "swarming" the property.

Rines said her brother got the gun for self-defense in response to recent shootings in the area.

Grier was arrested on reckless endangerment and weapons possession charges. He was released on $10,000 bond after his arraignment yesterday.

With The Associated Press