Man arrested after firing shots outside Dalton restaurant

Sunday, February 16, 2014

photo Steven Andrew Holland

A Chatsworth, Ga., man was arrested late Saturday in Dalton after he allegedly pulled a gun and fired into the air in the parking lot of Chili's restaurant near College Drive.

Steven Andrew Holland, 24, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, reckless conduct, simple assault, and discharging a weapon on the property of another, according to a news release from the Dalton Police Department.

The incident began in the restaurant and spilled outside, the release from spokesman Bruce Frazier said.

Holland told officers a group of people inside had been harassing his wife and some people followed them into the parking lot as they were trying to leave, Frazier said.

Holland told officers four or five people surrounded him as he tried to get into his SUV and one hit him on the head. He said he pulled a 9 mm handgun from a holster in his jeans and fired two shots into the air.

However, other witnesses disputed that story, telling investigating officers that Holland was the one who swung first before being punched and pulling out his gun, according to Frazier.

Officers determined that disagreement led back to a fight that Holland's wife, Celeste Holcomb, had had with Megan Bowling at a football game in Murray County several years ago. Bowling and members of her group saw Holcomb and Holland at the restaurant, which led to the exchange of words and the shots.

Holland surrendered without incident when police arrived at 11:10 p.m., Frazier said. His wife, who was driving away in the SUV, also was stopped by police.