(Springfield’s News Talk 104.1) – A Houston man pleaded guilty in federal court to assaulting and threatening federal law enforcement officers at Fort Leonard Wood.
James W. Dickens, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal officer and one count of threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer.
Dickens drove a stolen vehicle to the north gate of Fort Leonard Wood on June 11, 2023.
He made several statements to personnel at the gate and showed them he had an axe in the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Dickens then fled from the gate and, after a high-speed pursuit, he crashed the vehicle he was driving into the north gate drop arm barrier, yelling and cursing as officers surrounded the vehicle.
Dickens admitted that, as one of the officers drew his taser, Dickens said, “If you tase me, I will kill you,” or words to that effect. He then charged toward the officer with his fists clenched, and the officer tased him.
Dickens fell to the ground but resisted the officers as they attempted to apprehend him, and said he was going to kill the officer who tased him.
The officers handcuffed Dickens and placed him in a Military Police vehicle, where he continued to scream and threaten the officers.
Dickens is subject to a sentence of up to 18 years in federal prison without parole.
