A routine theft complaint at the Wagoner County Courthouse turned into a serious scare Friday when a Coweta man allegedly threatened to “shoot the courthouse up,” according to officials. The man had reportedly come in to file a theft report and became angry when staff told him the complaint could not be taken there. Witnesses told authorities he then threatened law enforcement and other first responders. Deputies later found him at his home, arrested him without incident, and booked him into the Wagoner County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
According to FOX23, the confrontation started inside the courthouse when staff cited jurisdictional limits and told the man they could not accept his theft report there. After leaving the building, he went to a Casey's convenience store in Wagoner. Deputies and officers later tracked him to his residence, where they took him into custody.
Deputies Track Suspect Home After Courthouse Threat
Wagoner County deputies, assisted by the Coweta Police Department, arrested the man at his home without incident and took him to the county jail, FOX23 reports. He was booked on a single charge of “threatening to perform an act of violence” and is being held without bond while he waits for further court proceedings.
Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott underscored how seriously his office takes these kinds of threats, telling FOX23, “Any threat of violence against our courthouse, law enforcement officers, first responders, or the public will be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
Recent Tensions Around First Responder Safety
The arrest comes on the heels of another high-profile safety scare in the area. In April, investigators said a different Coweta man fired at a Wagoner County emergency-management drone during a search for a missing juvenile, a case that prompted similar warnings from deputies about dangers facing first responders.
What Happens Next
Prosecutors have not yet announced any additional charges or a court date, and the suspect remains in custody at the Wagoner County Detention Center. The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office and Coweta Police Department say investigators plan to forward their findings to the District Attorney's Office as the case moves ahead.
