A 21-year-old Salem man has been charged with two misdemeanor counts in Marion County Court in the aftermath of an alleged incident where he briefly wouldn’t allow a two-year-old to be removed from a home where he had displayed a loaded gun.
Joseph Fortman of Mary Ann Avenue had bond set at $25,000 after being charged with possession of a firearm without a FOID card and aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a firearm at a person putting them in danger of battery.
Salem Police say a woman at a home in the 200 block of South Marion called friends expressing concern in staying in the home because Fortman had a gun and was acting suicidal.
When police arrived, the mother of the two year old was allowed to leave the home, but he refused to allow her to take the child. While Salem Police were reviewing the situation, Fortman came out of the home unarmed and was taken into custody without incident.
Police then went into the home and got the two-year-old and returned him to his mother. They also allegedly found a loaded gun in the home.
Fortman had the public defender appointed to represent him. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim or her residence if he is able to post bond.
