Man Threatens To Shoot Noisy Neighbor Using Leaf Blower At 7am

Authorities in Pinellas County, Florida, arrested a 51-year-old man after he threatened to shoot his next-door neighbor for using a leaf blower in the morning, police documents allege.

The unnamed neighbor was removing leaves from the roof of his home on Sunnybrook Lane in Largo at around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday when he heard between seven to eight shots being fired into the air, The Smoking Gun reported, citing several arrest affidavits.

He then encountered Curtis Manfred Franz in his backyard wearing a robe and "holding a black semi-automatic pistol," police said.

Franz, who lives next door, allegedly told his neighbor to stop using the leaf blower and pointed the pistol at the man's dog.

"I'm going to shoot your f-----g dog," Franz allegedly said.

"If you keep using your blower, I will shoot you too," he added, police alleged.

Responding police officers later contacted Franz, who was in a robe and "appeared to be intoxicated by odor and slurred speech" at the time, according to an arrest affidavit.

Authorities found seven shell casings near the property line that separated Franz's $1.1 million, 1.27-acre property from his neighbor's residence.

Franz was arrested for felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor discharging a firearm in public. He did not make any statements after police read his Miranda rights.

Franz was released from the county jail late Tuesday after posting $5,150 bond.

Authorities did not disclose the motives behind Franz's threats.

A similar incident happened in Florida last month when a fight over leaves on the ground between neighbors resulted in two people getting stabbed.

Police were called to a home on Sadnet Street in Palm Bay on Feb. 6 over reports of two people being stabbed.

The victims, who were siblings, claimed their 66-year-old neighbor Kyong Sil Moulton stabbed them with a steak knife after she blew leaves onto their yard and a fight ensued.

One sibling had a wound to her left leg, while the other had a stab wound to his left arm.

Moulton told police she came home that day and found that her front lawn was covered in leaves. She used a leaf blower and moved the leaves to her neighbors' yard as she believed they were responsible for the buildup.

However, Moulton proceeded to stab the two victims when they came out of their house.

Moulton denied stabbing anyone with a knife and told police that one of the siblings, a man, punched her in the face, while his sister slapped her repeatedly.

Surveillance footage of the incident showed that Moulton pushed the man first.

Moulton faced charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and battery on a person over 65 years of age.