Drexel, Mo., police chief pulled gun on girlfriend’s son, records say

Jonathan R.G. Carpenter, the Drexel, Mo., police chief who arrested early Wednesday, is accused of pointing a loaded gun while he was intoxicated at his girlfriend’s son and trying to avoid arrest, court records say.

Carpenter, 39, was off duty when authorities say he got into an argument with the woman’s son and pulled out a gun.

The Cass County prosecuting attorney’s office charged Carpenter Wednesday with unlawful use of a weapon while intoxicated, a Class E felony, and resisting or interfering with arrest, a Class A misdemeanor. He was released from jail after posting bond.

Drexel, Mo., Mayor Terry Mayfield said Friday he was unable to comment on Carpenter’s arrest but said the police chief was put on paid administrative leave Wednesday.

According to a probable cause statement filed Wednesday in Cass County Circuit Court, a Cass County deputy went to a home in the 400 block of East Hickory Street just before 2 a.m. Wednesday in reference to a report of a disturbance where an intoxicated man pointed a gun at another person.

At 2:23 a.m., the deputy arrived at Casey’s General Store and made contact with the male victim and three other people. The victim told the deputy he was in his bedroom with a friend when he heard the defendant, Carpenter, yelling. The victim said he opened his bedroom door and yelled back at Carpenter. That’s when Carpenter allegedly pointed a gun at the victim’s face. The victim said he put his hands up.

The victim’s mother and a friend got in between the two, and court records said Carpenter put the gun down. The victim and his friend then left the home and called 911.

The victim told the responding deputy that he lives at the residence on East Hickory Street with his mother and Carpenter, who are in a romantic relationship, court records said.

The woman said she and Carpenter had been drinking alcohol in the garage and had gotten into an argument. She told the deputy Carpenter had left the garage and was going to go to bed before the incident happened with her son.

Another male who was in the house, a brother of the victim, also reported hearing the two yelling at each other and seeing Carpenter pointing a gun at the victim’s face.

The victim, his mother, brother and friend all left the home after the incident and spoke with the deputy. While talking to the deputy, Carpenter called the woman on her cellphone. He allegedly told the woman he pointed a gun at her son “because of the time at the lake.”

Court records indicate Carpenter was referring to a time eight months ago that the victim allegedly got into a physical fight with Carpenter for breaking his mother’s finger in an altercation near the Lake of the Ozarks.

By 3 a.m. Wednesday, two deputies went to the home and spoke with Carpenter about the incident. Court records said Carpenter complied when a deputy asked him to turn away and place his hands behind his back, but the defendant allegedly started to resist by pulling his arm away from the deputy and walking forward. Carpenter allegedly told the deputy, “You gotta be kidding me, I can’t do this.”

Both deputies continued trying to arrest Carpenter. At one point, court records said Carpenter was partially on the couch and floor.

One deputy deployed his stun gun on Carpenter after Carpenter allegedly ignored commands to stop resisting. Carpenter was arrested afterward.

From the scene, a deputy located Carpenter’s gun, described as an HK .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Court records said the pistol was loaded with a bullet in the chamber.

At the county jail, Carpenter allegedly told staff he had consumed around 10 beers that night.

An arraignment in the case is scheduled 9 a.m. March 8 in Cass County Circuit Court.

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Drexel, Mo., police chief pulled gun on girlfriend’s son, records say."