A 50-year-old Crystal City man has been charged after allegedly attempting to take a firearm from a Festus Police officer who was trying to arrest him, court documents said.
According to court records, Joshua William Rutz has been charged with the class E felony of attempted disarming of a peace officer, which is punishable by up to four years in prison.
Rutz was arrested Jan. 13 and as of Jan. 14, he was being held in the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro on a $30,000 bond.
The case’s probable cause statement said a Festus Police officer responded to a trespassing complaint at the Twin City Walmart, 650 S. Truman Blvd. Two store asset protection employees reported Rutz allegedly attempted to leave the store without paying for a package of hot dogs.
Rutz allegedly pushed away the officer who was trying to arrest him. While wrestling on the ground, Rutz allegedly put the officer in a headlock but the officer broke free and the two store employees assisted in handcuffing Rutz. The two employees said they saw Rutz attempt to disarm the officer by grabbing at the officer’s pistol, the report said.
The officer found a used glass pipe in Rutz’s pocket, the report said.
Rutz has a lengthy criminal history which includes convictions for assault, resisting arrest and drug possession, and was wanted by Bonne Terre Police for failure to appear, court records said.