Metro

A city man was taken into custody after allegedly threatening to commit family annihilation while brandishing a kitchen knife.

Evan Michael Barner, 33, was arraigned June 28 by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on a single felony count of aggravated assault, seven misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, four misdemeanor counts each of making terroristic threats and simple assault and single misdemeanor counts of obstructing emergency services and possession of an instrument of crime with intent. He was remanded to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Altoona police were dispatched about 3:40 a.m. June 28 to a residence along the 2500 block of 10th Street for a report of a physical domestic incident. Officers noted Barner could not be seen when they entered the residence and that they heard individuals screaming upstairs. When officers yelled up the stairs to ask the suspect what he was doing, Barner allegedly said “I’m attempting family suicide,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

An officer outside the residence was able to gain a visual of Barner and told officers inside that Barner was holding a knife. Officers then ordered Barner to drop the knife and come down the stairs. Once Barner was taken into custody, officers located the four victims upstairs, three of whom were juveniles under the age of 12. Officers noted a large amount of redness and swelling around the adult victim’s left eye, the police report states.

In an interview, the adult victim told officers she woke up about 2:40 a.m. to an unusual text message from Barner. When the victim went downstairs to ask Barner about the message, Barner began yelling at her and saying she was “the problem.” The victim told officers she smelled alcohol on Barner and asked him if he was drunk, which made Barner more angry, the report states.

As Barner’s behavior escalated, the victim tried to barricade herself with the three juveniles in one of the bedrooms and call 911. She told officers Barner kicked the door down and threw her phone across the room, which ended the 911 call. Barner then struck the victim about five times. He also struck one of the juveniles after they tried to intervene, the report states.

After the attack, Barner left the room to retrieve a knife from the kitchen. In an interview, Barner told officers “it is not going to sound good” and “you can just put me in cuffs,” according to the affidavit.

Barner is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 8 in front of Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.