The Marion County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a 67-year-old rural Centralia man for allegedly firing a shotgun near two homes and initially refusing to put the gun down and move away as ordered by the sheriff.
Dennis Spenner of Cheyenne Road has been charged in Marion County Court with reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID card, and illegal possession of ammunition without a FOID card. During his first court appearance, Judge Mark Stedelin found concerns about Spenner’s fitness and ordered him to remain in custody until a fitness evaluation is completed. A public defender was appointed to represent Spenner.
The sheriff’s department initially got the call at 9:52 Tuesday night of shots fired and a male walking with a shotgun. The caller was concerned because they were unable to get a hold of their neighbor.
Deputies went to the neighbor’s home and never made contact with anyone. A short time later they spotted a male with a shotgun in his hand walking on Cheyenne Road. The man, later identified as Spenner, reportedly refused multiple orders to stop and put the gun down. Cripps says at that point, he drew his weapon. Spenner did eventually stop and a short time later and put the gun on the ground. He then allegedly refused multiple orders to move away from the firearm.
When a deputy arrived to provide assistance, Spenner was taken into custody without incident. Cripps said Spenner kept repeating something about organized crime as they were trying to get him to put down the gun.
Cripps says the gun was loaded with three deer slugs and 12 other rounds were found in Spenner’s pocket. One casing matching the others was found spent about ten feet away from the door of the person who initially called about the gunshots.
Court records indicate Spenner had been found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2013 case of aggravated battery to a police officer.
