Man arrested after hiding weapon in back yard

Melvin Dewayne Bookhart, 38, was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and assault by pointing a gun after he allegedly entered a home on Long Branch Road with a gun that he then pointed at the victim, according to RSCO reports. The victim told deputies they believed Bookhart had an SKS-type rifle, but when Bookhart spoke to the deputy, he told the officer that he was a felon and not allowed to have gun. Witnesses told deputies that Bookhart had put the gun in a plastic bag and hidden it in the back yard. Officers located the gun in the bag under a tree and some debris in the back end of the yard as described. Witnesses also said Bookhart had a pistol but deputies did not locate one.

Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports

• A report of littering/trash dumping on East Ridge Road reportedly occurred at 9:35 a.m. Oct. 7.

• Jeffrey Daniel Hamm, 44, was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with assault and battery, interfering with emergency communications and assault with a deadly weapon.

• Portia Kovette Lashaya, 31, was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with misdemeanor child abuse.