BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — A Ladson man is facing multiple charges after Berkeley County deputies say he pointed a handgun at his roommate during a heated dispute and later threatened to kill a deputy following his arrest.
The incident unfolded Saturday, June 20, at a home on Rainey Drive, according to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Duane Lewis announced Monday that 27-year-old Elias Izquierdo-Manuel was arrested and charged with pointing and presenting a firearm and threatening the life of a public official.
Deputies were dispatched to the residence after receiving a report that a man had pointed a firearm at his roommate during an argument.
According to investigators, the victim told deputies that Izquierdo-Manuel was highly intoxicated and handling a handgun inside the home. The victim alleged that the suspect became angry while questioning who he was speaking with on the phone and pointed the firearm directly at him.
The victim reportedly recorded part of the encounter on video, which deputies reviewed during the investigation.
When deputies arrived, they attempted to make contact with Izquierdo-Manuel, but authorities said he refused to come outside.
Law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the residence before eventually entering the home to take him into custody.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies found Izquierdo-Manuel in the kitchen. A handgun was sitting on a nearby table and was safely recovered without incident.
Investigators said that while in custody, Izquierdo-Manuel threatened to kill one of the deputies involved in the arrest, resulting in the additional charge of threatening the life of a public official.
During processing, deputies learned through Berkeley County dispatch that Izquierdo-Manuel was allegedly living in the United States without legal documentation. The sheriff’s office contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which placed an immigration detainer on him.
Izquierdo-Manuel remains housed at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center on an $80,000 bond.
Authorities said that upon completion of the local criminal proceedings, he is expected to be transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
