Police: Man charged with drunkenly firing gun in Sioux Falls playground

A Sioux Falls man was arrested Tuesday after police say he drunkenly fired a gun toward people at a playground.

Joe Dwight Gentry II, 24, was charged with four counts of aggravated assault, one count of simple assault domestic, possession of a loaded firearm while intoxicated and possession of a firearm by a felon.

At about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Gentry approached several children playing at an apartment playground in the 3500 block of South Marion Road and began yelling at them while waving a broken gearshift, police spokesman Sam Clemens said. He also allegedly yelled at and slapped a woman there before leaving.

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About an hour later, Gentry allegedly returned to the playground and approached four adults, yelling at them and firing a gun into the ground near them. He then is believed to have fired a shot toward the group, causing them to run, Clemens said.

Clemens said the officers who arrested Gentry said he appeared to be drunk. He does not live at the apartment and police are unsure why he was there, Clemens said. Police say Gentry accused the children of harassing his daughter, but Clemens said police have not been able to substantiate his claims.