An Albert Lea man is scheduled to appear in Freeborn County District Court today on charges that he allegedly threatened a group of people with a loaded gun and hit one person over the head with a flashlight during a reported altercation Nov. 24.

Reed Steven Nelson, 59, faces two counts of second-degree assault and one count of terroristic threats regarding the alleged incident.

Second-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. Terroristic threats carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to court records, Nelson had recently sold his house at 2202 Milo Ave., and on Nov. 24 the buyer and some of his friends came to the house to move some belongings in.

The buyer told police problems arose after someone accidentally let Nelson’s dog run out of the house, court documents state. When Nelson tried to let the dog back in, an argument began.

During the argument, one of the buyer’s friends reportedly walked toward Nelson. Nelson allegedly interpreted this as an attempt to assault him so he reportedly struck the man in the head with a flashlight. The man reportedly then pushed Nelson to the ground.

Nelson then allegedly went to the kitchen, got a pistol and pointed it at the man and some of the others.

Officers responded to the house after the buyer and his friends had left.

According to police reports, Albert Lea police and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies surrounded the house, and one officer was later able to talk Nelson out of the house.

After obtaining a search warrant for the house, officers reportedly found a 9mm pistol on the kitchen counter with a bullet in the chamber. They also found loaded clips for the pistol along with a black flashlight, among other items, according to court documents.