By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A Bolckow man accused of kidnapping an elderly couple and forcing them to go to a nearby convenience store against their will before barricading himself in his home faces numerous felony charges.
The Andrew County Prosecutor’s Office has charged 43-year-old Bradford Wayne Wermelskirchen with two counts of felony kidnapping, two counts of felony assault, one count of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. Bond has been denied. He remains in the Andrew County jail.
Andrew County Sheriff Grant Gillett says Wermelskirchen kidnapped his neighbors and forced them to take him to the store. At the store, the couple informed the clerk they were being held against their will. The clerk called authorities. The couple escaped. Wermelskirchen barricaded himself in his home at 5th and Richardson Street before sheriff’s deputies entered the residence and arrested him.
Gillett says the incident began around four o’clock Saturday afternoon. The suspect is accused of forcing the couple to take him to the nearby store for supplies. The suspect refused to give up to authorities. A Missouri State Highway Patrol negotiator attempted to talk him out of the house. When he refused, deputies went in.
Savannah police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Nodaway County Sheriff's Office, came to the aid of the Andrew County Sheriff's Office in the case.