Sean Rossman

Democrat staff writer

A Tallahassee man pointed a gun at a school Friday after city of Tallahassee Animal Control took possession of more than 80 cats and five dogs that were living in his house.

Tallahassee Police officers were called to Trinity Catholic School, directly across the street from George Karam's Gunter Street home, when they were notified the 65-year-old was pointing a gun in its direction, court documents said.

Police found Karam sitting on his porch with a rifle and he was arrested on charges of improperly exhibiting a weapon, making harassing phone calls and threatening a public servant.

He posted bail Friday evening.

Before his arrest, Karam had been making threatening phone calls to city employees upset that his pets had been taken from him, court documents said.

Leon County Judge Ronald Flury ordered the pets be taken away Thursday due to high levels of ammonia levels. Later that day Animal Control officers showed up and took all the pets to the Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center.

Karam, who was home while Animal Control officers hauled off his pets, told one officer he was going to kill him and his family, court documents said.

Throughout the evening and into Friday, Karam repeatedly called the city attorney's office, City Hall and Animal Control and made threatening statements to numerous city employees, court documents said.

Law enforcement contacted Karam and warned him to stop calling and making threats, but they continued.

On Friday, an off-duty Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent saw Karam was racking a rifle and pointing it towards the school, court documents said.

Officers found Karam sitting on his porch with an unloaded, lever-action Winschester rifle along with a box of 20 rounds, said court documents.

A receipt found at the scene showed Karam bought the gun and ammunition on Friday morning, court documents said. TPD impounded Karam's gun and ammo.

Karam said he got the gun only for protection, saying people were driving by his home and making threats.

Karam said he pointed the gun in the general direction of Trinity "only to sight the gun in." He added he was not pointing the gun at anyone and was not angry with anyone at Trinity, where he said he goes to church, court documents said.