• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

Man allegedly swings knife at hotel guests

Valerie Verkamp by Valerie Verkamp
July 17, 2020
in Headlines
Super 8 in Platte City

Super 8 in Platte City

11
SHARES
273
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Outside Super 8 in Platte City

Guests at a Platte City hotel were threatened by a man allegedly swinging a knife and proclaiming he was going to kill them for no clear reason.

The Platte County Prosecutor’s Office has charged 36-year-old Rufus Witherspoon of Savannah, Ga. with assault in the second degree. Witherspoon remains in custody at the Platte County Detention Center. If convicted, he faces anywhere from one to seven years inside a penitentiary.

RelatedNews

‘I’m proud of making a difference’

The Landmark enters 158th year of publication

City extends lease on temporary police station

At about 9 p.m. on Friday, July 3, Platte City officers responded to Super 8 at 2500 Prairie View Road regarding an attempted attack to cause death or serious bodily harm.

As soon as police arrived on the scene, a male victim came running and screaming for immediate assistance. The male victim pointed to the attacker in the parking lot, who had allegedly wielded a yellow knife he had drawn from his pocket.

When the officer drew her weapon and demanded the attacker to raise his hands and get on the ground, he did as he was told and was taken into police custody.

According to court documents, a male and female victim were sitting on a curb outside of Super 8 when out of the dark Witherspoon appeared saying, “here’s the new key.” Instead of displaying a room key, Witherspoon allegedly pulled a yellow knife from his pocket and began picking his fingernails with the sharp instrument.

A few seconds later, Witherspoon allegedly told the male victim he was going to “kill him” and began swinging a knife at the victim. Fearing the armed attacker, the male victim ran toward the hotel’s entrance and called 9-1-1.

Witherspoon followed the victim into the hotel and once again allegedly threatened to cause his death. Only this time, Witherspoon claimed he was pulling a gun from his truck parked in the hotel lot.

Video surveillance captured Witherspoon following the victim inside the hotel and “aggressively waving his arms,” according to court documents.

Witherspoon is being held without bond. Court documents say no weapon was found at the scene.

Tags: platte cityplatte countyPublic Safety
Valerie Verkamp

Valerie Verkamp

Valerie decided she wanted to be a newspaper reporter when she was 28 years old and she successfully convinced the editor of the Platte County Landmark to give it 30 days. Now with The Landmark for over a decade, she has written countless stories on local government, education, lawsuits, community news, crime, and the prison system. Valerie hails from Park University with a BA in Elementary Education and a post-baccalaureate degree in paralegal studies from Penn Valley Community College. She has received honorable mention for Best Government News Story and joined her Landmark colleagues as recipient of the General Excellence Award in the Better Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Missouri Press Association.

Related Posts

Budget, wars and tweets

Budget, wars and tweets

by Guy Speckman
May 13, 2022
0

The State of Missouri has passed a fiscal year budget. It nears $47 billion. Last year's budget was $36 billion. The largest budget increase in the history of the State of Missouri. If you still think Republicans are the fiscally...

45 Years Ago–May 13, 1977

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Dr. Carl Myers purchase the Platte Medical Clinic in Platte City this week and plans to open his office here in the near future. Dr. Nourbaksh will continue to be located in the Platte Medical Clinic. Mr. and Mrs. Louis...

30 Years Ago–May 15, 1992

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Bob Foster, vice principal of Fort Osage Junior High in northeast Independence, has been hired as principal at West Platte High School in Weston. Two girls tied with the same grade point average have been declared valedictorians of the class...

15 Years Ago–May 9, 2007

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

It has been a hectic week for Platte County residents and business owners with property in low-lying areas, as heavy rains across the region have forced rivers and streams out of their banks. Areas in and around Parkville, Riverside, Tracy...

Next Post
Park Hill School District logo

Park Hill offers choice of in-person or virtual

Popular News

  • Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    21 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Large logistics park planned east of I-29

    198 shares
    Share 79 Tweet 50
  • Bee Creek Bridge replacement set

    8 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • Memorial Day Weekend Celebration planned

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • City extends lease on temporary police station

    6 shares
    Share 2 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?