CROCKETT, Texas (KTRE) - A Houston County man is in custody after officials say he fired a gun and threatened workers at the sheriff’s office Saturday morning.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office says the man, later identified as Clifford Heniser, 34, first entered the office around 7 a.m. claiming to be a federal agent and asking to inspect records. He was told all deputies were out on patrol, at which point he left the building and reportedly returned with an AR-15.
Dispatchers hid under their desks and called for help, and Heniser soon left the building again, this time firing about 30 rounds into the air, the sheriff’s office said. Shortly after this, officers with Crockett PD and the Texas Highway Patrol arrived and confronted him.
The sheriff’s office said Heniser was found with a pistol and two magazines on his person along with the rifle. In his truck, four rifle magazines and between 300 and 500 rounds of ammo were also found, they said.
The Saturday release connects Heniser to a Wednesday Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, which detailed an incident in which a man came into the building using aggressive and profane language when speaking to officials. Heniser was arrested Wednesday for disorderly conduct.
The sheriff later said the office will now close at 5 p.m. and reopen at 9 a.m. to address security issues.
Heniser has now been given charges of impersonating an officer, unlawfully carrying a weapon, criminal trespass and deadly conduct. The sheriff’s office says he will be transferred to another county for holding.