Elderly Sikeston man arrested after Wednesday standoff with police

SIKESTON, Mo. -- An 82-year-old man is in police custody following an incident at his home Wednesday in which he allegedly brandished weapons and threatened to harm police.

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a call at 9:13 a.m. regarding a well-being check from the man's family. Family members requested officers to check at the man's address on the 300 block of Marian Street. "His family had shown up at the house and they'd had some sort of a disagreement, and he threatened them with a weapon," said Sgt. Jim McMillen, public information officer.

McMillen said that when officers arrived on the scene, the man would not come outside, and ultimately threatened the officers, saying that if they did not get off his property, they would be harmed.

That is when the Special Operation Group, hostage negotiation team and SEMO Bomb Squad was called in.

"The three teams there working together was probably key to all of this," said McMillen.

He noted the bomb squad's robot was used to take a phone inside, which the hostage team used to contact the man. The camera on the robot was used to see the man was not only armed, but in the process of loading more weapons.

"Once they saw that, the urgency really set in," said McMillen.

Then, the tactical team saw an opening and were able to use a stun gun on the man. At the same time, other tactical team members entered the home, disarmed the man and arrested him.

"Police are unsure of the motivation, however, the man's mental awareness is being evaluated," said McMillen.

No charges were filed as of press time.

Pertinent address:

300 Marian Street, Sikeston, MO