A 49-year-old St. Louis man was hit with felony charges after Cape Girardeau police say he ran at vehicles with a hatchet near Independence Street and Caruthers Avenue, refused repeated orders to drop the weapon, and was ultimately taken into custody after six officers made contact with him and an officer used a stun gun. Charles McDonald is now being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
Cape Girardeau police officers were called to the intersection of Independence Street and Caruthers Avenue on Saturday after receiving reports of a person armed with a hatchet running at vehicles, according to KFVS12. Officers arriving on scene found McDonald crouching in a bush behind a shopping cart, police say.
After officers told McDonald to show his hands, he allegedly retrieved a hatchet from the shopping cart and refused to drop it despite being told to do so multiple times, per the station's report. Another officer then approached. McDonald crossed the street while fleeing officers, running from them through the area before six officers ultimately made contact with him.
Six Officers and Stun Guns
Police say McDonald was taken into custody by another officer, while a separate officer used a stun gun on him during the struggle. Other officers on scene also deployed their stun guns, according to police. The account does not specify whether any vehicles or bystanders were struck or damaged as McDonald allegedly moved through traffic.
Felony Charges Carry Years of Exposure
McDonald was charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon and felony resisting arrest. Under Missouri Revised Statutes § 571.030, unlawful use of a weapon — including brandishing a deadly weapon in a threatening manner — is generally charged as a Class E felony carrying up to four years in prison, according to Combs Waterkotte.
Resisting arrest is normally a misdemeanor in Missouri, but it is elevated to a Class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison when the underlying arrest involves a felony offense or an active felony warrant, per the Rose Legal Services. A resisting-arrest charge can stand even if the original charge is dropped, according to the Benjamin Law Firm. Class E felonies form the baseline felony classification under Missouri law, capping prison time at four years alongside fines of up to $10,000 for each count. McDonald could face up to four years on each count if convicted.
Active Parole Warrant Adds Another Layer
Police say McDonald also had an active parole violation warrant at the time of his arrest. It remains unclear what underlying offense triggered that warrant.
McDonald's bond was set at $50,000 cash-only.
