Cedar Rapids man arrested after shots fired

A Cedar Rapids man was arrested Tuesday after police say he fired a gun into the air to scare four people.

Toby Smith, 41, is charged with four counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of assault going armed with intent, possession of drug paraphernalia, person ineligible to carry weapons, control of firearm by felony and reckless use of a firearm.

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According to a criminal complaint, Smith was talking with four people in the 1500 Block of K Street SW when he pulled out a 9 mm handgun and fired it into the air, to scare them.

He then pointed the gun at three of the four people, the complaint states.

Police officers, who were patrolling nearby and heard the gunshot, responded to the scene at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to a press release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

They found the handgun in a backpack in Smith’s vehicle and found a 9 mm shell casing on the ground that matched the ammunition in the gun, and surveillance footage showed Smith firing the gun and pointing it at the three individuals.

Police also found a clear glass pipe with burnt residue in Smith’s pants pocket, the complaint states.

Smith had his first appearance in court Wednesday and is being held in the Linn County Jail on a $75,000 cash-only bond.

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