Gasconade County Sheriff’s deputies responding Monday afternoon to call about a suspicious man near the Wood Court trailer park off Krausetown Road encountered a man armed with a knife.

Capt. Mark A. Williams said the call at 3:15 p.m. was for “a suspicious male armed with a knife or a handgun” and two deputies went to the area.

“While en route to the call, the deputies spotted the suspicious male on, or near, Krausetown Road,” the report from the sheriff’s department noted. “The male was armed with a knife and initially refused to drop the knife and told the officers that they were going to have to shoot him.

“The two Deputies continued issuing commands, ordering the male to drop the knife. After a brief stand-off, the 31-year-old male dropped the knife. He was then physically restrained by the deputies, taken into custody, and turned over to EMS.”

Deputies, along with EMS transported him to Phelps Health in Rolla for a mental evaluation. His name is being withheld as no criminal charges have been applied for, according to Williams. 

According to the release, Sheriff John Romanus praised the actions of his deputies considering the seriousness of the situation.

“While ‘Suicide by Cop’ may not be a common occurrence in Gasconade County, it does happen quite often around the country,” said Romanus. “Fortunately for everyone involved, our deputies exercised good judgment and the male surrendered without anyone getting hurt.”

The prior week began with a Nov. 11 call for a motor vehicle accident at Highway 19 and Cuba Street near Owensville. Alexander Kellogg, 18, Owensville, lost control a 2005 Dodge Stratus in icy conditions, went off the road, and came to a stop in a field. No injuries were reported.

The GCSO responded Nov. 11 to the 1300 block of Kingshighway near Bay for reported identity theft. Someone had opened a credit account without the man’s knowledge or consent. There are no suspects.

That day deputies also responded to the 2400 block of Lone Grove School Road for a reported death. The investigation revealed Marvin M. Kreftmeyer, 88, died of natural causes. No foul play is suspected.

Also on Nov. 11, deputies went to Highway 19 and Lovers Lane for a motor vehicle accident. Caleb Mundwiller, 23, of Columbia, Mo., was not injured when he lost control on ice of a 2007 Ford Mustang, traveled off the road and struck a tree. 

On Nov. 12, the GCSO responded to the 1500 block of Route J for a stolen vehicle. Sometime between midnight and 6:40 a.m. someone stole a 2007 Buick Terraz. At 7:39 a.m. in the 1400 block of Old Iron Road deputies recovered the man’s vehicle in a barn on unoccupied property. Deputies observed footprints leading from the barn to a home and entered the unoccupied home — with the homeowner’s permission — but no suspects were found. The investigation continues.

The GCSO on Nov. 12 arrested Douglas Andrew Horton, 30, Hermann, on a Gasconade County warrant charging him with larceny, and two Jefferson City warrant charging him with possession of drug paraphernalia and larceny. Horton was transported to the Crawford County Jail and incarcerated in lieu of bond.

Also on Nov. 12, the GCSO responded to the 1200 block of Black Forest Drive near Hermann for a stolen vehicle. Sometime between 8 p.m. on Nov. 11 and 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 someone stole a man’s 2007 Nissan Titan. On Nov. 18, the vehicle was recovered in Lincoln County near Troy, Mo. The vehicle was sitting roadside and unoccupied. There are no suspects.

On Nov. 13, the GCSO responded to the 1200 block of Black Forest Drive near Hermann for fraud. The victim reported that when his 2007 Nissan Titan was stolen on Nov. 12 his wallet was also in the vehicle. Someone used a credit card for a purchase in St. Ann, Mo. The investigation continues.

On Nov. 14, the GCSO responded to the 1600 block of Lake Shore Drive near Owensville for theft. 

On Nov. 16, deputies went to the 800 block of South Hickory in Owensville for a weapons violation. 

Also Nov. 16, the GCSO responded to the 2400 block of U.S. 50 near Rosebud for a careless driver. A vehicle was off the roadway and in a yard. Norman Lee Hansch, 24, Manchester, was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He was later released on a summons to court.

On Nov. 17, the GCSO responded to the 1400 block of Red Bird Road for property damage. Someone had thrown a rock at his truck and damaged the windshield. There are no known suspects currently.