Police arrest man for pulling gun on employee at Caliber Collision in Copperas Cove

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

A man was arrested on Sunday, June 12 by Copperas Cove police for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly pulling a firearm in the parking lot of Caliber Collision in Copperas Cove.

Aaron Jakhail Franklin was taken into custody in the 300 block of Constitution Drive on a warrant early Sunday morning.

According to the arrest affidavit, the incident occurred around 8:30 on the morning of Monday, June 6, when Franklin entered the Caliber Collision, and according to an employee, was “disgruntled, asking about his truck.”

The employee told Franklin that the vehicle, a 2011 red Dodge Ram, was not on the lot, and Franklin continued “making a scene, escalating the incident.” Franklin was asked to leave the premises due to his behavior and continued using “offensive profanities.”

Then, Franklin went to a vehicle outside, and the employee observed Franklin reaching into the vehicle and exhibited a black handgun. According to the employee, there was a female in the passenger seat who was telling Franklin to “get inside the car.”

“(The employee) stated Aaron (Franklin) waved the gun at him several times before concealing the gun inside his pants” and said “come out here and find out (obscenity), you don’t want none of this.” The employee told police that he feared for his life.

A witness on the scene also told police that Franklin had come into the establishment, and walked in “in a hostile manner.” The witness also went outside and heard the “argument from Aaron escalated outside”, and also observed Franklin reaching under the seat of his vehicle and pulling out a handgun. He said he couldn’t see if Franklin pointed the weapon at the employee or just waving it, because he was observing Franklin from behind.

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a second degree felony, according to Texas penal code.