An Albert Lea man arrested Thursday for allegedly firing a handgun into the air to threaten his girlfriend has been charged.

Hector Adrian Rodriguez, 25, faces two counts each of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a dangerous weapon and terroristic threats — all felonies.

He also faces two felony drug charges for 16.8 grams of methamphetamine found on him during his arrest, as well as a number of lesser charges.

According to a court complaint, Rodriguez allegedly fired a 40-caliber handgun a number of times Wednesday evening near Casey’s General Store on 12th Street Southwest after a confrontation between him and his 24-year-old girlfriend.

The two were at a party at 1304 16th Ave. S.W. when Rodriguez allegedly poured beer over the woman.

She began to leave, at which point Rodriguez walked up and hit her in the right side of the face, the complaint states.

The woman began to call 911, and Rodriguez fired the gun into the air. A 19-year-old friend of the woman said she saw Rodriguez initially point the gun at them until another man pushed his arm upward.

When officers arrived, Rodriguez had left the scene, but they were able to find one shell casing in the yard. There is reason to believe someone had picked up a number of other shells, police chief Paul Philipp said Thursday morning.

On Thursday evening, a woman who lives at 1304 16th Ave. S.W. called police and said Rodriguez had recently been at her residence.

The woman said he had shown him a handgun before leaving in a green car.

Rodriguez was tracked down and apprehended at gunpoint that night at around 11 p.m. at the Bremerton Apartments. He initially denied owning a gun, but told authorities on Friday that he would reveal where he hid the weapon.

Rodriguez is in custody on $300,000 bail, or $150,000 with court conditions. He is scheduled to appear in Mower County court again on Oct. 8.