Caruthersville man arrested after dynamite threat

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A man was in custody Monday morning after he threatened to blow up himself, police officers and his neighbors with dynamite, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

At 10:20 p.m. Sunday, Caruthersville Police were called to a residence on 10th Street where a person was threatening suicide. When officers attempted to contact the man, he refused to open the door.

"The suspect came to the door and was very agitated," said Caruthersville City Marshal Chris Riggs in a news release. "The suspect told officers through the door that he was going to start shooting at everyone outside of his door and on his property."

The man also stated he would shoot himself if the officers did not leave. The suspect then made several calls to 911 dispatch, which relayed his concerns and demands to officers at the scene.

Riggs stated the situation escalated when the man said he had dynamite and threatened to detonate it. Officers then set up a perimeter around the home and neighbors were evacuated, according to the chief.

Additional officers were called to the scene including Pemiscot County sheriff deputies and the Kennett Special Response Team. Investigators negotiated with the suspect for approximately two hours.

In an effort to end the standoff, Riggs said officers used a Taser at the front door of the suspect's residence. Officers then pursued the man to the back of the house where after a brief scuffle they were able to take the man into custody.

"Neither the suspect nor any officers were injured in this incident," Riggs said.

The man was taken to the Pemiscot County Jail then transported to the Pemiscot Memorial Hospital for evaluation by the Missouri Crisis Access Response System, a division of the state behavioral health care system.

Riggs said as of Monday morning charges were pending in the case.