A Butler County jury needed less than two and a half hours Thursday to convict a Poplar Bluff man of five charges in relation to an incident that took place in June.
Timothy W. Williams of Poplar Bluff was found guilty of resisting arrest, armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree harassment by the Circuit Court of Butler County.
Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor was pleased with the verdict.
“This is another job well done by the Poplar Bluff Police Department and another dangerous offender off our streets,” Proctor said.
The case was tried by Butler County assistant prosecuting attorneys Paul Oesterreicher and Matthew Michel before the Honorable Judge Michael Pritchett, Presiding Circuit Judge of the 36th Judicial Circuit. The trial began on Wednesday and went to the jury the next day. The jury deliberated for just two hours and fifteen minutes before convicting Williams on all five charges.
The case arose from an incident that took place June 14, in the area of 11th and Tremont streets in Poplar Bluff, when Poplar Bluff Police Corporal James Henry responded in reference to a call involving a suspect who was yielding a knife and making threats to a man and his son.
Henry testified upon arrival that he observed Williams holding a knife. Henry said he ordered Williams to drop the knife, but Williams refused to and fled on foot. After a short pursuit, Henry further testified that Williams pointed the knife at Henry in a threatening manner and resisted being handcuffed.
At that time, Henry said he drew his service weapon for his protection and Williams further resisted. PBPD Lieutenant Bob Moore arrived on scene while Williams was actively resisting arrest and reportedly observed Williams with the knife. Shortly after Moore’s arrival, Williams placed the knife on the ground and was taken into custody with no injuries to any person involved.
Williams is facing up to 58 years in prison — 30 years for armed criminal action and seven years on each of the remaining counts. Sentencing is set for Feb. 22, before Pritchett.