A Villager who has been deemed too dangerous to possess a gun allegedly racked a shotgun and issued a threat to “kill” a person in his home.
James Edward Stein, 74, who lives on the Historic Side of The Villages, was taken into custody Wednesday after a frantic call was placed to 911, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department.
After a “verbal confrontation” that lasted for the better part of the day, Stein pointed the shotgun at a man “who lives with him,” according to the heavily redacted arrest report. The man fled the house and called 911 from a neighbor’s home.
The Lady Lake Police Department went to court last year to place Stein under a Risk Protection Order due to concerns about his mental health. The order, which remains in effect through Dec. 9 of this year, prohibits Stein from possessing any firearms.
When officers arrived at his home, they found the weapon in his closet. The shotgun had one shell in the chamber and four more in the magazine tube.
He is being held without bond at the Lake County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and violation of a risk protection order.
After his arrest, the Town of Lady Lake issued a statement to Villages-News.com explaining why it sought the Risk Protection Order last year.
“In a previous encounter, PD determined that Mr. Stein was a danger to himself and others and should not possess a firearm. We petitioned the court and the judge issued the Risk Protection Order banning him from possessing any firearms during the specified time frame,” the statement said.
In 2015, the Pennsylvania native was arrested after showing up at Sam’s Club and trying to bully a woman into dropping a restraining order against him. He told her he would “never let her go and would kill her.”
Since December, Stein has been embroiled in a legal battle with a couple living in his home. He wants them evicted, and in a court filing, complains they have not paid rent.