Rensselaer man charged after firearm incident at neighbor’s home
According to court documents, Jasper County deputies responded on August 30, 2025, around 7:00 p.m. after a 911 caller reported that her neighbor, later identified as Joseph J. Amelio, 39, came onto her property on North County Road 1000 West and began arguing with her husband. She told dispatchers that Amelio pulled a firearm from his pants during the confrontation and was yelling and screaming at people at the residence.
When deputies arrived, they found the property owners and several friends unharmed. Witnesses reported that Amelio, upset over a generator running, displayed a black handgun and waved it around during the argument, at times pointing it in their direction. They stated that after yelling for some time, Amelio left on his lawnmower, fired multiple rounds into a nearby field, and then returned to his home across the street before officers arrived.
Amelio was later located and admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to operating his lawnmower. Witnesses also observed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and unsteady balance. Deputies noted that Amelio had soiled clothing and displayed abusive behavior during the encounter.
Charges filed 09/02/2025:
• Intimidation: Where defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony)
• Intimidation: Where defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony)
• Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (Class C Misdemeanor)
Amelio was transported to the Jasper County Jail and later released after posting a cash bond.
