Butler County felon faces charges after allegedly pointing gun, knife at neighbors

MORGANTOWN, Ky. – A convicted felon faces criminal charges in Butler County.

According to a uniform citation, the Morgantown Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a man pointing a gun and pulling a knife on his neighbors Friday evening on Helen Way.

The victims told police that 48-year-old Ryan Lee Smith, of Morgantown, walked into his driveway possessing a handgun and knife and told him to “stop idling your truck or I’ll shoot you and it up.”

MPD says Smith did not answer his front door when authorities called his name. An officer forced entry into Smith’s home “for exigent circumstances,” according to the citation.

Smith was arrested and transported to the Butler County Jail.

A search warrant was later obtained for Smith’s home early Saturday, according to a second uniform citation.

Law enforcement says a loaded firearm and a knife, identified by the victims during the incident, were found in an air vent. Smith is a convicted felon and cannot possess a firearm.

Officers say they also located suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside the home.

Smith is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, third-degree terroristic threatening, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (first offense- methamphetamine) (enhancement) and drug paraphernalia buy/possess.

The investigation is ongoing.