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.
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.