MALDEN, Mo. -- Following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control, a Malden man now faces three felony charges after an armed stand-off in Malden on Tuesday.
Bobby N. Cantrell, 48, of Malden, has been charged with second-degree felony assault on law enforcement (two counts), felony armed criminal action, and felony unlawful use of a weapon.
The charges stem from events Tuesday evening, when Cantrell flourished what was later found to be a "cocked and loaded" .357 magnum handgun at officers with the Malden Police Department.
The stand-off ended with Cantrell being shot by Malden Police Chief Jarrett Bullock shooting Cantrell once.
Officials have not disclosed where Cantrell was wounded, but he has been listed as being in stable condition since the incident occurred. According to a statement from the Dunklin County Prosecutor's office, Cantrell was treated for his injuries and was released from the hospital, into police custody. There was no word about his mental condition.
Subsequent to the investigation concluding, Cantrell was arrested in the Pemiscot County Jail, where he is being held until he is picked up by Dunklin County. It is likely, according to the prosecutor's office, that he will be arraigned on March 17.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Cantrell had been reported as leaving a residence with a handgun and had threatened to kill himself if he saw a police officer. The call was made to police at approximately 5:18 p.m., Tuesday.
According to the report, Cantrell was located by officers within one minute of the call. He was seen walking across Highway J toward an Amerimart convenience store, and had a visible weapon that was identified by officers as a revolver.
MPD Officer Corporal Nick Darter was the first to observe Cantrell after the call had been placed. Darter reportedly pulled his vehicle close to the front door of the business, and took position at the rear of the truck. Cantrell then allegedly approached the front of the truck and pointed his gun at Darter, causing the person in the truck to lay down and take cover in the seat.
MPD Chief Jarrett Bullock and MPD Sgt. Jimmy Phelps arrived on the scene, just as Cantrell was pointing his gun at Darter. Bullock reportedly parked on the west side of the parking lot and immediately began talking to Cantrell, advising him to let the person in the truck leave. Cantrell complied and then began walking north across the parking lot.
According to the report, Bullock continued talking to Cantrell, repeatedly telling him to put the gun down, while Phelps took a position at the north side of the building, along with Darter. When Cantrell saw Phelps, he allegedly raised his gun and pointed it at the officer. Bullock then fired two shots at Cantrell, striking him once.
According to the report, Bullock heard "what he believed was Cantrell cocking the hammer on his gun." Bullock then fired two shots, one of which struck Cantrell. The report goes on to state that Cantrell didn't immediately drop the gun after falling to the ground; but Phelps and Darter were able to remove the weapon from him.
According to the report, on the following day, Cantrell was interviewed about the incident and admitted to Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant J. L. Weadon that he "did in fact point a gun at the Malden Police Officers."
Cantrell reportedly explained that he had a gun because "he was in a rage and he was going across town to kill someone." The report notes that Cantrell would not identify who he was intending to kill. The report further states that Cantrell was at Amerimart to get a drink before going after the unknown person.
The affidavit was filed in Dunklin county on Thursday, March 12.