Alex D. Harper, 40, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a domestic abuse offender, carrying weapons, fourth-degree theft and failure to possess or display a weapon permit.

Harper was ordered held on a combined $8,000 cash-only bond during his initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court Wednesday morning.

Magistrate William Habhab also appointed attorney Laura Barnaby, of Fort Dodge, to represent Harper.

Harper was arrested Tuesday after the Fort Dodge Police Department was called about threats that were being made.

Police Capt. Ryan Gruenberg said officers were called to the Best Western Starlite Village Inn & Suites, 1518 Third Ave. N.W., after someone said a man allegedly threatened to shoot up the place.

Officers determined that’s not what happened, and while they’re unclear about what actually did happen, Gruenberg said it stemmed from an argument Harper had with a woman.

“Ultimately, we determined this male and another female were in some kind of verbal argument prior to this occurring. The message got spread through third party that this male had a gun and may shoot up this lady’s house,” Gruenberg said. “It doesn’t look like the threat was ever made to shoot up the Starlite. It’s just as it passed through people, by the time it got to us that’s how it was construed.”

Officers on scene allegedly found a Sig Sauer Mosquito .22 caliber handgun on Harper.

That gun had been stolen out of Calhoun County, Gruenberg said.

Harper’s preliminary hearing is Nov. 16.

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