A Cedar Rapids man has pleaded guilty to bringing a shotgun into a city building in August.
Court documents show Russell Jay Howard, 42, pleaded guilty Dec. 28 to unauthorized possession of offensive weapons, a class D felony, and carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor. Howard had originally pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Howard, an employee at the City Services Center at 500 15th Ave. Southwest, brought a shotgun into the City Services Center just after 10:30 a.m. Aug. 23, police said. The shotgun was altered to a barrel length of less than 18 inches.
The building's employees were evacuated after Howard entered with the gun, and Cedar Rapids Police Department negotiators worked to contact Howard as he remained alone in the building, armed, police said. Police believed Howard was a threat to himself.
After about an hour, Howard was taken into custody without injuries. He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital for evaluation and arrested on Sept. 1 upon his release.
No one was injured in the incident, and no gunshots were fired.
Howard's sentencing is set for Feb. 13.