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SALEM TWP. — A township man tried to run down his girlfriend with a vehicle after she discharged a firearm during an argument Sunday, police say.

Fred Curtis Dourand told officers the argument began because his girlfriend, Claudia Kathie Benshoff, wouldn’t let her brother go snowboarding with him.

According to a criminal complaint:

Benshoff and her friend, Mandi Smith, were outside shoveling snow outside a residence on Second Lane when Dourand showed up. Dourand went inside the residence and began throwing items around.

Benshoff entered the residence, and she claimed Dourand shoved her against a wall. Fearing for her life, Benshoff told police she grabbed a firearm and fired a round in an unknown direction.

Dourand left the residence and got into his vehicle to drive away. As Benshoff exited the residence holding a firearm, Dourand drove up to her and nearly struck her with the vehicle.

Dourand exited the vehicle, wrestled Benshoff to the ground and got the firearm from her. Dourand then entered the residence and grabbed a second firearm.

Police said the two firearms were found inside another vehicle.

No injuries were reported, and no charges were filed against Benshoff.

Dourand, 20, of Second Lane, was arraigned by District Judge David Barilla in Forty Fort on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment.

He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

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By Ed Lewis

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