Man charged with aggravated assault after allegedly pointing handgun at two people

 

An Oak Ridge man was charged with two counts of aggravated assault after allegedly pointing a handgun at two people near Tacoma Road and California Avenue on Thursday, authorities said.

One resident in the area said he he came outside his home to see who was in his yard at about 7:45 p.m. Thursday, and he saw a man with a gray hooded sweatshirt, black vest, dark pants, dark long hair, and a tattoo on his left cheek pointing a black handgun at him, yelling, “You hawked me, b—-, come to 122,” as he walked around behind a home on East Tennessee Avenue, according to a warrant filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

The resident feared for his life and ran back into his home and called 911, the warrant said.

Another resident, who gave the same description of the suspect, said the man was walking around waving a black handgun over his head, yelling “122” as he pointed the handgun at her behind the East Tennessee Avenue home. She also feared for her life, ran inside, and called 911, said a second warrant, filed by Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Jesse Johns.

Officers allegedly found the defendant David Joseph Janis, 35, of Tacoma Road, about 12-15 minutes later, hiding behind a trash container wearing the clothing that had been described by the two residents.

“When officers approached, he ran off and was found in the doorway of 122 Tacoma Road,” the warrants said. “A short period later, officers recovered the clothing on the rear deck and the handgun on the counter in plain view inside the open rear door of 122 Tacoma Road.”

Janis has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, a Class D felony.

The Oak Ridge Police Department sent out a notice of police activity in the area of East Tennessee Avenue and Tacoma Road at 8:17 p.m. Thursday, asking residents to stay indoors and not drive in the area.

The Police Department let residents know three minutes later that a suspect was in custody, and the area was clear.

Janis remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Friday evening. His bond has been set at $50,000 total.

More information will be added as it becomes available.