Man accused of threatening family with chain saw

A Burfordville man faces a weapon charge after authorities say he frightened his family with a chain saw.

Caleb Wayne Kitchen, 32, was arrested Tuesday by Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputies and charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

Kitchen had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol Tuesday evening when he went out to the porch of his home in the 2500 block of County Road 361 and began revving a chain saw, according to a probable-cause statement by deputy Tony Baliva.

Kitchen was revving the saw to scare his children for misbehaving, Baliva wrote.

Kitchen tried to walk inside the house with the chain saw in his hand, and his wife nearly was cut trying to prevent him from entering, according to the statement.

Kitchen's wife pleaded with him multiple times to put down the chain saw, then said she was going to call the police if he did not, according to the statement.

Kitchen responded by putting the chain saw on the front porch and grabbing his shotgun, Baliva wrote.

Kitchen then loaded the shotgun in the front yard and told his wife, "Go ahead and do it. I'll be waiting for them," according to the statement.

Kitchen's wife and children attempted to flee the residence in a vehicle, but Kitchen blocked them, so his wife handed over the keys to the vehicle and then fled on foot, Baliva wrote.

Kitchen posted bond -- set at $7,500 cash or surety -- at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday.

Pertinent address:

2500 block of County Road 361, Burfordville, Mo.