FORNEY, Texas — Police say restaurant patrons stopped a man who appeared to be intoxicated from driving with his child, an altercation ensued, and the man displayed two firearms.
28-year-old Nathan Pontzer of Forney, Texas, was arrested during the incident, according to police, and charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, a third degree felony; deadly conduct, a class A misdemeanor; and abandon or endanger a child, a state jail felony.
On Sunday, March 28, 2021, at approximately 5:56 p.m., the Forney Police Department responded to Forney Icehouse, located in the 100 block of East U.S. Highway 80, in regard to the disturbance.
"Upon arrival, Officers observed an armed suspect outside the front of the business," read a statement from the Forney Police Department. "The suspect dropped the firearm and put his hands up when he saw Police."
According to witness statements to police, restaurant patrons believed Pontzer was intoxicated when he tried to leave with his small child. The patron(s) attempted to stop Pontzer from leaving with the child in the vehicle and an altercation ensued in which Pontzer allegedly displayed a firearm.
The firearm was taken from Pontzer and, as the patron(s) were taking the child back inside the restaurant, Pontzer retrieved another firearm and tried to re-enter the business, which had been locked.
Pontzer was then, upon officers' arrival, taken into custody without further incident.
Pontzer was awaiting arraignment as of press, therefore bond information was not immediately available.
