70-year-old man arrested after gun pointed into drive-through window

photo Ernest Cummings

A 70-year-old man has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault after being accused of pointing a gun through a drive-through window at a local fast-food restaurant, police say.

Ernest Cummings, of Ringgold, Ga., was arrested Saturday and taken to the Hamilton County Jail, said Officer Erik Hopkins, spokesman for East Ridge police. He is scheduled to appear in East Ridge Municipal Court on July 24 at 5 p.m.

About 4 p.m. Saturday, police were called to the Wendy's at 6727 Ringgold Road on a report of a man with a weapon, Hopkins said.

Staff told police that the man thought another customer was being too loud and wanted him removed from the restaurant. They refused and the man became angry, left the building and got in his car, Hopkins said.

He then drove to the drive-through window, got out of his vehicle and shoved a tray of food and other garbage through the window while cursing, Hopkins said. The man then got a handgun out of his vehicle and pointed it at two employees, Hopkins said.

The man left but police officers caught him about two blocks away.

A .40-caliber handgun was recovered from the vehicle, Hopkins said.

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