A Burlington man is facing several charges after police say he fired a handgun into the air during the Fourth of July weekend.
65 year old Robert Fink has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, discharging a weapon within city limits, and interference with official acts.
According to court documents, Burlington police were called to the 1000 block of South Central Avenue around 11:36 p.m. on July Fourth after receiving reports of gunfire.
Officers located Fink on a porch and say he did not immediately comply with commands to step away with his hands raised. Police say Fink turned toward the front door, and a handgun fell from his pocket onto the porch.
Investigators recovered a .380-caliber handgun and nine spent shell casings from the scene. Witnesses told police they believed the sounds came from gunfire rather than fireworks, and said they did not approach Fink because they believed he was intoxicated and had previously made threatening statements.
Court records indicate Fink has a prior felony conviction for operating while intoxicated in Lee County in 1993, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
Fink is being held in the Des Moines County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.