FORT HALL — A 42-year-old Fort Hall man was arrested last week after authorities say he threatened a convenience store employee with a tire pump during an argument over graffiti he was accused of leaving on the store's ice machine.

Brandon Michael Anderson, of Fort Hall, has been charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor injury by graffiti, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.

Bingham County Sheriff's deputies were called Sept. 8 to assist Fort Hall police at the Blue Corner Store after a report of vandalism, according to the probable cause affidavit. When a deputy arrived, an officer already on scene said Anderson was sitting next to the store's ice machine, where he had been drawing "208 Snowman" in marker, court records show.

A store supervisor confronted Anderson about the graffiti, and an argument followed, during which, Anderson said he was "going to (expletive) you up" and that he was "going to catch you outside," then approached the supervisor holding a tire pump raised near his shoulder as though preparing to swing it, the affidavit states.

The supervisor told police Anderson said he was going to hurt him and wasn't always "going to be here," warning he would confront him outside the store, according to court records. The supervisor said he kept a concrete barrier between himself and Anderson until officers arrived and told investigators he feared for his safety.

When the deputy spoke with Anderson, he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance, exhibiting rambling speech, irregular movements, open sores on his face and heavy sweating, according to the affidavit. Anderson said he didn't remember the exact words he'd used but acknowledged what he said was "inappropriate," and said he didn't recall holding the tire pump but admitted he "can get escalated," court records show.

Anderson's wife told investigators he carries the tire pump and other items in his bags, and said he stopped approaching the supervisor after he looked at her, according to the affidavit. A separate witness told police she heard Anderson threaten to assault the supervisor and direct a racial slur at him during the confrontation, though she could not confirm what he was holding, court records state.

Deputies arrested Anderson and booked him into the Bingham County Jail.

Anderson appeared before 7th District Magistrate Judge John Scott Andrew for an arraignment hearing on Sept. 9, where his bond was set at $25,000.

He is scheduled to appear in court again Thursday for a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors will attempt to present sufficient evidence to elevate the case from magistrate to district court for trial.

If convicted of felony aggravated assault, Anderson faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.