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WOODS CROSS — A man recently arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at a woman and her children for playing music too loud has been arrested again after police say he fired a round at neighbors while children were outside.
Joseph Brent Whyte, 59, of Woods Cross, was taken into custody by a SWAT team early Wednesday and rebooked into jail for investigation of felony discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and intoxication.
On June 9, White was arrested and later charged in 2nd District Court after police say he pointed a “rifle-type gun” at a neighbor and her two children for allegedly playing music too loud. According to charging documents, “the male told her to turn it down, or die.”
Whyte’s blood alcohol content at that time was measured at .266%, the charges state.
On June 25, Whyte posted bail, according to court records. On June 30, Woods Cross police were dispatched to a possible shooting.
A resident heard a gunshot and found a bullet hole in his garage. Near the garage, a bullet hole was also found in a vinyl fence that led to a backyard. A woman told police she heard a gunshot at the same time several children under the age of 10 were playing in the yard, according to a police affidavit. The woman immediately had the children come inside.
Using a laser to do a reverse trace of the bullet’s trajectory, investigators determined the only place the shot could have come from was Whyte’s residence, the affidavit states.
Police noted in the report that “Joseph is an alcoholic and is reported to drink heavily on a daily basis” and has threatened “to shoot law enforcement if they were to have an encounter with him.”
On June 16, following the confrontation with the neighbor over loud music, a relative called police to express concern about the man’s welfare. The affidavit states that 24 handguns and rifles were removed from the home. The firearms “were hidden all over the house.”
Since bailing out of jail, Whyte “had been drinking more heavily than usual,” according to the police affidavit, and concerns were expressed that “he was going to become a danger to himself or others.” Whyte also allegedly said not all of his guns had been found.
For the safety of officers, a SWAT team was used to take Whyte into custody without incident.
