A man who has been elected to Guyton City Council faces a handful of charges facing a Christmas Day incident at his home.

According to Effingham County Sheriff’s Department reports, Michael Bernard Johnson, of Martha Drive, was arrested Christmas Day and charged with two counts of simple assault under the domestic violence act, one count of simple battery and one count of criminal trespass.

According to the incident report, deputies went to the Johnsons’ home around 3:30 p.m. Christmas Day. A deputy and two family members went to the house in attempt to calm down Johnson. The deputy told investigators he saw Michael Johnson throwing his wife’s and their daughter’s belongings into the yard.

The deputy, whose sister is Johnson’s wife Tammy Johnson, the deputy’s wife and his mother-in-law were met by shouting from Michael Johnson at the house. Michael Johnson then pulled out a semiautomatic pistol and put a round in the chamber but did not point the weapon at anyone, according to the report.

The deputy told the rest of the family to leave, and Michael Johnson went back inside the house, barricading himself in.

As other deputies arrived, they called for Johnson to come outside with his hands above his head in case he was armed. Johnson did not respond, according to the report, but was on the phone with his brother-in-law. Deputies asked him to tell Johnson to come outside.

When asked why there were clothes in the yard, Johnson told deputies he was innocent and they had nothing on him. He also refused to answer any questions, according to the report.

The dispute started, Tammy Johnson told investigators, over their 5-year-old son tying his shoes. She said she told her husband a 5-year-old isn’t going to learn to tie his shoes in five minutes.

Michael Johnson then began yelling loudly and stormed out of the room. When he turned toward his wife and yelled even louder, their daughter got in between them, according to the report. Tammy Johnson and their daughter left the house and she called for their son to come get them.

Deputies found the gun, hidden under a stuffed animal. They also discovered that Michael Johnson had destroyed the Christmas tree in the house and had emptied every clothes drawer.

Johnson ran unopposed and was elected to city council in November for the seat being vacated by Jeff Lariscy. He has yet to take his seat on city council, however.