FESTUS, Mo. — Jefferson County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man Monday while attempting to make an arrest.
According to the sheriff's office, the deputies were serving a no-bond arrest warrant around 8:45 a.m. in the 400 block of Montauk Drive near Festus when the suspect they were trying to arrest allegedly assaulted them.
The suspect was shot and taken to an area hospital for medical care, the sheriff's office said. He later died from his injuries.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
According to Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesman Grant Bissell, detectives were serving a felony no-bond warrant against 37-year-old Anthony Stratmann Jr., who was accused of making terrorist threats over the phone to judges last week. Authorities said the man threatened he would go to court to shoot the judges or anyone who tried to stop him.
According to a probable cause statement, Stratmann said this "was not a threat but rather a guaranteed promise."
He was charged Friday with one count of making a terroristic threat.
According to a probable cause statement, Stratmann accused government bodies of stealing his property, reading his mind and conspiring against him.
He also falsely claimed deputies murdered his children and that several judges and the sheriff helped cover it up, documents said. The children are safe and under their mother's custody, Bissell said.
The probable cause statement said Stratmann was a danger because he made threats to shoot numerous people, he expressed his lack of fear of consequences and he recently attempted to overtake a marked patrol car and affect an "arrest" of an off-duty law enforcement officer.
Bissell said Stratmaan had made several "bizarre and troubling" comments on posts on the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page. Mental health specialists had been trying to help him since the end of December. The purpose of Friday's warrant was to arrest and hospitalize him so he could receive mental health treatment.
The man was on the porch and locked the door when he saw deputies, Bissell said. A family member who owns the home let deputies in the back door, at which point the man became aggressive and grabbed a hammer.
Deputies told him to stop, but he refused. They tried to subdue him with a stun gun, but he continued to act in a threatening manner, Bissell said. Deputies opened fire, striking him with at least one bullet.
An investigation into the deputies' use of force was ongoing.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV App Store.