A St. Joseph man is accused of firing a weapon into the air and then leaving the scene.

Westley Whitten, 27 is charged in Buchanan County with a class-E felony of unlawful use of a weapon.

According to court documents, on Thursday in the 900 block of 14th St., officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to a home for a fight in progress.

“After arriving on scene they were advised by several subjects on scene that Westley discharged a firearm into the air and went back inside the residence,” said Det. Doug Howard.

After searching the home Det. Howard said officers did not locate Westley inside.

“Westley later returned to the scene and was taken into custody. The firearm was said to have been, ‘lost’ as Westley was fleeing from the area on foot,” Howard said. “Evidence was collected on scene.”

Whitten was due in court Tuesday morning for an arraignment. He’s currently being held on $25,000 bond in the Buchanan County Jail.