MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A state representative has admitted he shot out the tires of his ex-wife's car during an argument, but his ex says she wants charges against him dropped.
Rep. Ralph Howard spent Sunday night in jail over the incident and faces misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and reckless endangerment.
The Greensboro Democrat said Friday that he had gone to his ex-wife's home to discuss what he considered a safety issue involving their children's living arrangements. Howard said he became angry when she refused to speak with him and tried to leave. "It enraged me," Howard said.
Howard acknowledged that he shot her tires to try to force her to stay and talk. He said he wished he reacted differently.
The representative said he plans to plead not guilty.
"I never pointed a gun at anybody. I didn't wave it around," Howard said.
Yolande Howard said that she called police after he shot two tires on her car and police arrested him. Yolande Howard said that, at the time, she told a police officer she wanted to press charges. However, she said Friday that she wants the charges dropped against her former husband.
"It was an argument that got out of hand. He did shoot the tires, but he never pointed the gun at me," Yolande Howard said.
A call to the Greensboro police chief about the incident was not returned.
Howard was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2005. He holds a degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama.
He is the second Alabama lawmaker to have a run-in with the law this month.
State Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.