A Kannapolis man is charged with threatening his 75-year-old grandfather and other relatives with a knife at the grandfather’s home.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Joshua Scott Ritchie, 28, with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and communicating threats.

Deputies were called to the home in the 1100 block of Ebenezer Road on Friday night for a domestic disturbance. Robert Monroe Ritchie told deputies he was at his home when his grandson tried to get money from him so he could pay a motel bill. Joshua Ritchie threatened to kill his grandfather, prompting the elder to draw a gun in his own defense, according to authorities.

Joshua Ritchie, who was wearing a T-shirt and hospital scrubs, said he had been released from the hospital the previous night after a drug overdose. As deputies talked with him, Joshua Ritchie’s behavior began to escalate, deputies said, and they arrested him.

Robert Ritchie said his grandson was brandishing a knife and said he knew the family had money. Another relative, Trent Ritchie, said Joshua was waving the gun erratically and threatened to kill him.

Family members said Joshua told Trent if he called law enforcement, he’d kill him and the officers too.

Joshua Ritchie remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond.

When deputies searched him, they found a syringe in one shoe and money in his other shoe. He told them it was money he owed the county.