Man Pulls Gun During Parking Space Argument; Tells Police He Felt Threatened

A man faces a criminal charge after police said he displayed a weapon during a dispute over a parking space at SSM St. Mary’s Health Center in Richmond Heights Tuesday.

William Hopper, 34, of North Lake Drive in Hillsboro, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

A man told Richmond Heights Police that he got into an argument with a man driving a black Toyota Corolla, later identified as Hopper, at about 3:50 p.m. Tuesday. He said Hopper pulled into a parking space as he was trying back into the same space in a parking garage.

The man told police that they argued and Hopper pulled out a handgun and pointed it out the driver’s side window at him.

Hopper told police he did pull out the gun, but said he did so because the man approached his car aggressively and he was trying to protect himself.

Police found a Springfield Armory .45 cal semi-automatic handgun the glove compartment of Hopper's car.

Bail for Hopper was set at $10,000.

For more crime information on Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch, see the following articles:

• Driver Charged With Assault-DWI in Clayton Collision