Tuesday, May 26, 2009

A 40-year-old Big Pine Key man was in jail Monday after he allegedly threatened to kill his wife and fired several shots in his home Saturday night, including one while deputies were present, reports say.

Michael David Cristler Jr. of 31357 Avenue C was charged with assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and discharging a firearm.

Cristler denied threatening his wife, saying he was only shooting iguanas, reports say.

After a day of drinking at a friend's house, Cristler grew angry and said he didn't want to be with his wife anymore, she told deputies, according to reports.

They were arguing in the bedroom when he threatened to "blow a hole in her head" while she was sleeping, then went downstairs and began shooting his .45-caliber handgun, reports say.

She ran to a neighbor's house and called 911 around 9 p.m.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots coming from the Cristlers' home, reports say. While a deputy was talking to the wife, they heard another gunshot coming from the Cristlers' home, reports say.

When the deputy approached the house, she saw a man on the porch and repeatedly ordered him to show his hands, to which Cristler eventually complied and was taken into custody without incident, reports say.

Deputies collected some spent shell casings for evidence as well as the handgun, which Cristler told them was on a shelf, reports say. Deputies also confiscated six rifles, magazines and bullets from the house, reports say.

Cristler remains in Monroe County jail on Stock Island in lieu of $75,000 bond.