Man faces weapons charges after dispute in Waukegan

A 28-year-old South Carolina man faces weapons charges stemming from a dispute in Waukegan in which his wife told police he fired a gun at her, authorities said Thursday.

Joseph B. Smith was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and driving under the influence, police said.

Just after noon Tuesday, Waukegan police were called to a report of shots fired near Belvidere and Green Bay roads.

Officers spoke to a 28-year-old woman who told them she and her husband had an argument near Belvidere Road and Lewis Avenue, police said. The woman told officers he pulled out a gun and fired a shot in her direction, police said.

He then drove away. Police spotted a vehicle matching the description and pulled it over at Eighth Street and Green Bay Road.

Smith, who lives on the 700 block of Brannigan Lane Columbia, South Carolina, was taken into custody without incident, police said. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was found on the vehicle's front seat, police said.

A Lake County judge on Wednesday set Smith's bail at $75,000.