Police make several arrests on final night of Sikeston rodeo

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Department of Public Safety had a busy night as the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo came to a close on Saturday.

The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported that during the concert featuring Gretchen Wilson, about 30 to 40 people jumped the fence to run to the stage in the muddy arena. "It was a mess," said Capt. Mark Crocker of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Police used a stun gun on at least one individual who jumped the fence and arrests were reportedly made. However, DPS officials were unsure of the number as of Monday morning, prior to sifting through all of the reports.

There was another incident as the rodeo came to a close.

At 4:42 a.m. Sunday, a Jaycee called DPS to report a Dodge truck circling the greens of the golf course near the rodeo grounds. When officers arrived on the scene, they found two sets of tracks, and an abandoned four-wheeler by the fence near the rodeo grounds.

As of Monday morning, no arrests had been made. There were ruts and other damage to the greens.

"They had stolen an ATV from the rodeo grounds, took it to the sand traps and got it hung up in a little canal that goes across the number four fairway and got it stuck," said Jeff Ketterman, general manager. He said that those on the ATV apparently then contacted the driver of the truck to get them out, which damaged the ATV to a point where it could no longer be driven. While leaving, the truck came across the number three green and turned doughnuts, leaving 3-4 inch deep furrows in the greens.

As of right now, Kettermann said he is estimating $25,000 of damages.