Changed of venue ruled for accused swordsman

A Chaffee man accused of wielding a sword at the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart has pleaded innocent. Richard Taylor, 57, pleaded innocent Monday to felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, two counts of assault on a police officer, property damage and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. Circuit Judge John Heisserer approved a motion to move the case to New Madrid County on a change of venue. According to police, Taylor also allegedly damaged various items on Nov. 1 at Wal-Mart, 3439 William St., with the sword. At the time of his arrest, it reportedly took two police officers to subdue Taylor, who also allegedly brandished a knife toward the officers. During the arrest, officers reportedly found a plastic bag of marijuana in Taylor's pocket along with two firecrackers.