Crystal City Police arrested a 31-year-old Peoria, Ill., man around 8 a.m. Sunday (May 8) after he kicked in the door at an Airport Road home while suffering an apparent psychotic episode.
The couple who live at the home are in their late 70s. They called police, who arrested the man at the house.
“He told the officers that there were two men trying to beat him up, so he broke into the house to get away from them,” Crystal City Police Capt. Mike Pruneau said. “Then a couple of men who saw the police cars and lights came to the house.
“It turned out the three of them had gone to the Festus Airport to go skydiving, and when they turned around, their friend was gone. They told the officers he’s schizophrenic and had been off his medicine. Apparently, the adrenaline from thinking about the jump made him have a psychotic episode.”
The man was taken to Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City for observation, Pruneau said.
The case will be referred to the prosecuting attorney, but Pruneau said he didn’t believe criminal charges would be sought.
“When he came out of it, the guy was very apologetic,” Pruneau said.
No injuries were reported and there was no estimate on the damage to the door.