HARMONY — A man early this morning fired a handgun inside his mother’s house on Old Little Creek Road, authorities said.

A short time later, the same man showed up at a nearby convenience store in Jackson Township, claiming that he’d been hit by a car and that someone had broken into his house and was torturing his mother.

When police got to the Buy ‘n Fly on Route 68, the 45-year-old man tussled with several officers before he was eventually arrested and taken to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

“He was extremely violent and very, very combative with officers,” township Police Chief Terry Seilhamer said.

The lone clerk, a young woman, called 911. Eventually, as many as a half dozen officers from Jackson and Zelienople showed up at the store. Police soon were struggling with the man, who was flailing his arms and kicking his feet at officers and at whatever else he could, police said.

“He damaged a lot of property,” Seilhamer said, “including racks of cigarettes and snacks.”

Police said the suspect, Douglas Spink, faces a long list of charges.

A complete report appears in Monday’s Butler Eagle.