Upset over dog, veteran charged with making terrorist threat to VA staff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Apparently upset over his dog, a Poplar Bluff veteran was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police say he made threats of violence against staff of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.

The alleged threats made by Ralph Jeffrey Jones continued since March 4 and apparently revolved around his dog, which he has demanded be returned to him.

Authorities said the dog was at Jones’ Maud Street home at the time of his arrest Tuesday afternoon.

David Carter, a member of the VA’s police department, reported to patrolman Jeremy Elless that Jones called the hospital March 4, yelling and cursing at telephone operator Delmar Booker.

When Carter spoke with Jones, Elless wrote in his report, Carter attempted to calm the veteran and told him not to curse.

“Jones asked where his dog was at,” Elless wrote. “Jones was informed that his dog was with his sister. After being informed of this, he stated he was going to come up to the VA and whoop my a--.”

Carter said Jones threatened to bring a gun and shoot Carter and another VA officer, Carl Adams.

Adams reported he also spoke with Jones on March 4.

During the call, Elless said, Jones cursed Adams and repeatedly threatened to whip him.

Jones also contacted VA social worker Rebecca Hart by phone the same day, Elless said.

Jones told her the “police had taken his dog away and then taken him home,” Hart said. “He stated: ‘Somebody better bring me my f---ing dog; I won’t live through the night if I don’t have my dog.’”

Jones demanded Hart contact his sister, she said. Jones’ sister is a VA employee.

“Jones stated he will put a bullet in his f---ing head if he doesn’t get his dog back,” Elless said. “Hart asked if he had a gun, to which he replied: ‘Yes, I have a gun.’”

Elless said Hart reported Jones told her later he was “not suicidal, but that he is homicidal.”

On Monday afternoon, Elless said, a call also was made to the National Veterans Crisis Hotline.

The caller, identified as Jones, stated “he was going to bring a gun and start shooting people,” Elless said.

Jones, 52, was arrested at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday at his residence in the 1800 block of Maud Street on suspicion of making a terrorist threat. He was booked at the Butler County Jail.

Pertinent address:

1500 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo.