David M. Helminiak, 70, of 147 Third St., Waterville, has been locked up after he allegedly almost shot a couple and their dog who were walking along the Pine Creek Rails to Trail on June 18, as he was target shooting, Lycoming Regional police said in an affidavit.

The reporting party stated that the bullets struck within a couple feet of where they were walking, and that they observed a male shooting from the back porch of a nearby residence. The caller estimated that approximately six shots were fired in their direction, according to court filings.

While speaking with Helminiak, police observed a brown .22 mag Ruger rifle with a magazine loaded and the bolt open, expended shell casings and other live ammunition on the rear porch of his residence.

Helminiak allegedly admitted that he had been practicing shooting, and the target, without any kind of back drop, facing the Rails to Trails was observed by police, they said in an affidavit.

Asked about firing in that direction, Helminiak allegedly stated that he made a mistake and shouldn’t have been.

He was arraigned on charges of possessing an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct by District Judge William Solomon, and remanded to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.