Boy, 11, charged with trying to stab Butler County deputy

An 11-year-old boy is facing charges he tried to stab a deputy and threatened a family member with a knife Monday afternoon in Butler County, Missouri.

The child's name is being withheld due to his status as a juvenile.

The Butler County Sheriff's Office is seeking felony charges of assault on law enforcement, assault and armed criminal action. The boy was referred to Butler County juvenile authorities.

According to court documents, the boy's mother told deputies he grew irate during an argument, began throwing items in the home and armed himself with a knife. She said the boy held the knife to his stomach as she pleaded with him to not harm himself.

The boy then began to chase his mother with the weapon as she and two other children, one less than 9 years old and one less than 5 years old, hid in the bedroom. The mother told deputies while she did not believe the boy would harm the younger children, she was in fear for her own safety.

Deputies arrived at 3:42 p.m. Monday, and as the first deputy on the scene attempted to enter the home, the boy tried to stab him through an opening in the doorway. The deputy was able to disarm the boy and secure him in handcuffs without injury to the child or himself.

Court hearing and current custody status of the juvenile are unknown. Missouri law prevents the release of court information to the public in juvenile cases.