CALCUTTA - A St. Clair Avenue man was charged with aggravated menacing and domestic violence Sunday after a 911 call to police reporting a dispute involving a knife and gun.
Ronald Hooker, 30, was charged after police responded to his home in regard to a text message he reportedly sent his sister, Carrie Hooker, telling her he was going to stab his wife, Carla. Carrie Hooker drove to their home, where her brother refused to let her in. Carla Hooker went to the basement to let her in but Mr. Hooker then locked them both outside, chaining the door.
He reportedly pointed a .22-caliber handgun at his sister as both women tried to get inside, where the couple's 3- and 5-year-old children were sleeping.
Police arrived and said the women refused to back away from the home, "desperate to get (to) the children," but officers removed them to a safe area.
Officers approached the rear sliding door armed with shotguns and found Mr. Hooker standing partially outside the door on the deck and ordered him at gunpoint to put his hands in view.
He initially told them they were on his private property but then complied with officers' orders, according to reports.
He was found to have a folding knife in his pocket, and the handgun, with an unloaded magazine, was found lying on the kitchen table, police reported.
The children were found sleeping normally in their beds. No injuries were reported.
Police reported that the Hookers had been involved in an argument over Mr. Hooker having been gone two or three days at a Chicago tattoo convention.
