The park manager of Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park was cited on suspicion of prohibited use of a weapon after firing a warning shot last weekend in the middle of a dispute about snow shoveling.
The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting Saturday evening. After an investigation, deputies determined three men at the park were involved in a dispute about shoveling snow, which broke out between 5 and 6 p.m.
“I think one individual may have been actually shoveling snow onto another vehicle,” Sgt. Wes Doughty said Sunday. “I guess almost like in an antagonistic manner. And then a disturbance broke out in the middle of the park.”
During the altercation, one of the three men, Johnny Staley, the park manager, fired a warning shot into the ground from a 9mm handgun.
Once at the scene, deputies separated and detained the men.
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Burke said Tuesday that Staley, 32, was cited with prohibited use of a weapon, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Burke said the bullet could have ricocheted and hurt someone.
“We’re glad no one was injured,” he said. “We hope (people) find other avenues to settle disputes.”
None of the other men involved in the altercation was cited or charged, Burke said.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
