SPRING VALLEY – One man is in custody after a Bureau County incident where a homeowner had to fire a pistol to scare off an intruder. According to the Spring Valley Police Department 22-year-old Austin J. Schmitt of Cherry allegedly broke down the door of a home located on the 400 block of Elm Street in Spring Valley and reportedly confronted the homeowner about a female companion in the residence. Authorities say Schmitt and the homeowner had a physical altercation. That’s when police say the homeowner obtained his handgun to fire three “warning shots” into the wall. Nobody was injured by gunfire. It was reported that Schmitt left the residence and was located at St. Margaret’s where he sought treatment for his injuries sustained during the apparent altercation. Schmitt was arrested and charged with battery, criminal trespass to a residence and felony criminal damage to property. He was taken to the Bureau County Jail.
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