Prosecutors charge man after standoff in Cole County

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors charged a man after a standoff with Cole County deputies on Tuesday night.

John Terhune is charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors in connection with the incident.

Deputies responded to a home on Westport Drive around 11 p.m. Tuesday for a well-being check, Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler said.

According to court documents, each time deputies knocked on the door and announced their presence, Terhune would present himself with a handgun. Documents also said deputies learned earlier that day Terhune threatened to burn the home down.

Deputies tried to make contact with Terhune for several hours, but he allegedly refused to communicate and started barricading doors.

Deputies said they eventually went inside the home and found Terhune hiding in the attic. According to documents, deputies had to use a pepper ball gun to try and force him out, but he refused.

According to documents, deputies had to go into the tight-spaced attic and arrest Terhune which "put the officers in grave danger."

Wheeler said the scene cleared before 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Deputies said they also found 51 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, 32 grams of marijuana, scale and a loaded gun in Terhune's bedroom.

Prosecutors charged Terhune with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Online court records did not list an attorney for Terhune.