A man who just moved to Greeley from Alaska is facing a misdemeanor charge for firing a shotgun into the dirt in his backyard because he wanted to “hear his gun.”

Police arrested the 31-year-old on Oct. 20 on a charge of operating a weapon while intoxicated, according to Colorado court records, after he fired three shots into the ground in his backyard, citing that “things are different in Alaska.” according to an affidavit for his arrest.

On Oct. 20, Greeley police were dispatched to the 1200 block of 14th Avenue after multiple reports of shots fired. An officer also heard the gunshots while on routine patrol in the area.

When police arrived, they say they saw a man lying on the ground inside the home. When an officer knocked on the door, the man — who the Tribune is choosing not to name because of the nature of the incident and the lack of criminal charges against him — got up and answered the door.

When the man came outside, police say he was unsteady on his feet, smelled of alcohol on his breath and appeared “extremely intoxicated.”

The man initially denied owning any firearms or firing any weapons that night, but eventually admitted to firing the rifle three times after police found spent casings on the back porch and told the man that a neighbor identified him as the shooter.

The man told police he had just moved to Colorado from Alaska to start over. He told police things are different in Alaska and he just wanted to “hear his gun,” so he shot his rifle into the dirt behind the house, according to the affidavit.

When officers entered the home to retrieve the shotgun, they say they noticed several empty bottles of alcohol throughout the home. When police found the rifle, the ammunition in the magazine appeared to be the same as spent casings on the back porch, according to the affidavit.

The man was arrested and while en route, officers say he made some remarks to officers about being drunk and shooting the rifle.

He was released the same day on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond ahead of a Nov. 26 arraignment in Weld District Court.