HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The 52-year-old Hutchinson man who held police at bay for nearly nine hours on the Fourth of July made an initial court appearance where he was told of the potential charges against him.

Thomas Fee is jailed for potential charges of criminal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, interference with law enforcement and a probation violation for a conviction of DUI.

Fee who has a history of mental issues admitted in court that he needs mental help and says he has an appointment later this month, but ran out of his medication when this latest incident occurred. He may have also been under the influence of alcohol at the time. Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson told the court that he believes the defendant has alcohol issues with three DUI’s since 2006.

Fee wanted the $3,500 bond turned over to a cash bond or signature bond, but was denied after the state objected. Davidson indicated that they will be filing a motion to revoke his community corrections for a DUI conviction from last year.

Fee was allegedly held up in a garage in the unit block of West 14th, from 9:47 a.m. to around 5:30 p.m. Police fired tear gas twice into the garage that he apparently rents for storage. He eventually came out and tried to run. They then used non-lethal bean bag rounds to get him to stop.

It started when police were investigating a noise complaint and one officer spotted a man with an assault rifle and he allegedly fired a number of rounds, one into the ground then three to four in the air.

Fee is back in court Wednesday after the state files formal charges.