MONTICELLO – A Monticello man has been arrested after he fired shots from a .22 caliber rifle into the area in an attempt to make people his residence.

Raymond Andrews, 38, was reported to have been in an argument with several people there. He told them to leave and when they didn’t, he took the rifle and began firing several shots into the air from the front lawn.

When Monticello police officers arrived with weapons drawn, they ordered Andrews to the ground and arrested him without incident. The rifle he used and several others inside the residence were recovered.

Andrews was charged with felony reckless endangerment in the first degree and misdemeanors for criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, menacing in the second degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, as well as a violation of the Village of Monticello ordinances for discharging a firearm in the village limits.

His girlfriend, Elizabeth Rodriguez, 19, of Monticello, was arrested and charged with obstructing governmental administration when she interfered with the investigating officers at the scene.

Andrews was remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail; Rodriguez was released on her own recognizance pending further court action.