A Bucyrus man faces multiple charges after holding three people hostage and threatening to kill county deputies during a more than hour-long standoff Sunday evening inside a Success church.
Sigman said the suspect called and requested that officers meet him at Success Baptist Church.
When officers arrived, Sigman said the man brandished a gun. He said the suspect was armed with both a .45 caliber pistol and an AR-15.
“He threatened the deputies,” Sigman said. “So at that point they backed off and blocked traffic until back-up arrived.
Sigman said the suspect had two children with him and had gained entry into the church by calling its pastor and asking that he unlock the door.
“I don’t know what his relationship is with the pastor or the church,” Sigman said.
After phone contact was made with the man, Sigman said he and detective Rowdy Douglas eventually approached the front door of the church and engaged in close-up conversation with him. The officers were right outside the door and the suspect was just inside.
“He still had a firearm at his side,” Sigman said, “but we were able to grab a hold of him and get him to the ground. Sometimes you do what you have to do.”
After a stand-off lasting more than an hour, the suspect was apprehended around 7:45 p.m. The two guns were seized as evidence.
Sigman said six deputies and four Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers responded to the scene. The troopers helped block traffic on Highway 32 while deputies set up in front of the church and on a gravel road behind it.
Sigman said a probable cause statement was sent to the county prosecutor. He hoped charges would be filed by Tuesday afternoon.
“Thank God this turned out the way it did,” Sigman said.