Calder man charged with aggravated assault after allegedly firing rifle
CALDER — Details have been released on an alleged attempted shooting Monday in the southern region of Shoshone County.
Steven Meile, 61, of Calder, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault after he allegedly opened fire on two men who were conducting a tree survey on Stimson Lumber property.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the two men were both wearing reflective vests while completing their work when they heard three to five gunshots in rapid succession. One of the men said two of the shots “zinged” by his left ear, the affidavit said.
According to the report, both men dropped to the ground in fear, believing they were being shot at intentionally. The men believed the weapon being used was a handgun due to the loud sounds accompanying the shots, the report said.
Both men then heard a male voice shout, “You’re trespassing,” from the trees, but never saw him, the report said. As they exited the property, they saw a vehicle also leaving the area at a high rate of speed, police said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located Meile, who owns property near where the two men were surveying. Deputies also reported seeing a vehicle that matched a description provided by one of the victims.
According to the PCA, Meile said that he, along with his wife and son, had heard what they believed to be a human sneeze and began calling out to see if anyone was there.
Meile told deputies they've had issues with cougars and other wildlife, and that they fire off rounds to scare animals away.
Deputies recovered a .22-caliber rifle, which still had 11 rounds in an 18-round magazine. They also found two shell casings where the incident occurred, one from a .22, and the other from a .45.
Meile told the deputies that he used a .45 caliber handgun to scare off a moose a week earlier.
Meile was released on bond and is expected back in court Sept. 17 for a preliminary hearing.