Very few people have completely healthy and problem-free relationships with all of their family. While family relationships are valuable and special, they also can be packed with complexities and emotions that can sometimes lead to legal disputes.

It's important to look at criminal charges involving family members with sensitivity and objectivity. Media reports of an incident generally are based on police reports, which don't take the complexities of family history and relationships into account. This matter comes up because an Arizona father is charged with aggravated assault in Arizona and criminal damage following an incident with his teenage son.

According to a Phoenix report, the defendant in this case is a father, husband and Maricopa County detention officer. He was arrested recently after his family called police to report that he had threatened his 19-year-old son with a gun.

His son reportedly upset the defendant when he tried to stop him from driving because he thought he was intoxicated. That's when he and his mother claim that his father pointed a gun at him before he ultimately did drive away. Police found the defendant with his gun in his vehicle and took him into custody.

Another aspect of the incident that the family reported is that the defendant might have been suicidal on the night in question. This point just adds to the emotional and complicated aspect of this criminal case. The defendant is currently out on bond and on administrative leave from his job.

Source

MyFoxPhoenix.com: "Police: MCSO Officer Threatened Son with a Gun," Jan. 24, 2012