Man allegedly hits wife with rifle

BIRDSALL, N.Y. (WIVB) - Early Saturday morning, State Police say they were forced to storm a house in Birdsall to take a man who had barricaded himself inside his home into custody.

Police say the incident started around 3:30 a.m., when they were told about a violent domestic dispute on County Route 16. Warren Moyer, 56, allegedly threatened his wife with a rifle and struck her in the head with the weapon. The victim fled and was taken to the hospital for treatment. She was later released.

In the meantime, her husband refused to respond to troopers. Police say Moyer was highly intoixcated. After several hours, the State Police Special Operations Response Team stormed the home and took Moyer into custody. He has been charged with second degree assault and second degree menacing.

Moyer is currently being held in the Allegany County Jail on $15,000 bail.