A 52-year-old Oxford man is free on a $10,000 personal bond after he was charged Tuesday with five felonies after allegedly pointing a loaded gun at his 20-year-old daughter on Sunday.
Joseph Robert Vestrand was arraigned in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court by Judge Lisa Asadoorian on charges of domestic violence, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies were called by the daughter after she claimed Vestrand allegedly pushed her then ‘pulled her arm behind her back and forced her against the steps leading upstairs? inside their home on Chesapeake Ct., according to the sheriff’s report.
The woman said she had to ‘elbow? her father to break free before he retrieved a black Walther handgun from a drawer in the living room and allegedly pointed it at her. The daughter said she was about seven feet from Vestrand at the time of the incident.
The woman was able to retrieve her dog and run out of the house, fearing he would shoot her. She met with sheriff’s deputies at a gas station on W. Drahner Rd. and M-24.
According to the sheriff’s report, Vestrand had called his daughter to come and get the dog from their house. An argument ensued when she entered the home.
Before arriving at the home to question him, deputies called and asked Vestrand to step outside to speak to them, but he said he was unable to come to the door due to being hooked up to a portable oxygen tank. Vestrand’s daughter later told deputies that he ‘rarely uses it, except when he wants sympathy.?
Vestrand said their argument was only verbal and that he didn’t have any weapons in the home except for those owned by his wife. He said he ‘pointed the base of a flashlight? at his daughter and that she ‘must have mistaken that for a weapon.?
The woman’s mother confirmed Vestrand’s story, telling deputies no weapons were ever pulled out and her husband never threatened their daughter with a handgun.
Deputies later showed the daughter two handguns, the Walther and a silver Ruger handgun, found at the residence.
She identified the Walther as the one her father allegedly pointed at her.
Deputies also removed two Bushmaster AR-15 rifles and a black Beretta handgun from a bedroom in the home. According to the sheriff’s report, the Beretta had a loaded clip full of .22 long rifle rounds inside.
The handgun Vestrand allegedly pointed at his daughter, according to Oakland County Sherrif’s Detective Kevin McNally, was loaded with five rounds.
Vestrand’s pre-exam is set for Monday, April 2.