FINNEY COUNTY -Authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged criminal threat involving law enforcement officers.
Just after 3:30 p.m Monday, Deputies with the Finney County Sheriff’s Office responded to a man verbally assaulting an off-duty Sheriff’s Deputy at her residence, according to Sergeant Lana Urteaga.
During the investigation of the assault, deputies learned a man, later identified as Jason Wood, 42, Garden City had gone to the deputy’s residence and made erratic comments about the Finney County Sheriff’s Offfice.
Wood was very angry and aggressive toward the deputy and tried to enter into her residence. She was able to close her front door, and he left the area.
At around 6:30 p.m. Mr.Wood was located in the 2200 block of Crestway Drive by an on-duty Finney County Sheriff’s deputy who was in an unmarked vehicle.
The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Wood. Officers of the GCPD responded to the area to assist; however, officers and deputies lost sight of him. A short time later, Mr. Wood was found in the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter, 3101 East Kansas Ave, where he exited his vehicle and ran into the store.
Witnesses and employees reported that Wood was making comments about harming officers of the Garden City Police Department as well as comments against the deputies with the Finney County Sheriff’s Office.
Store patron reported hearing Wood making comments about getting a gun and shooting officers and deputies and walked towards the sporting-goods section of Walmart Supercenter.
Store employees prevented Wood was from retrieving a firearm.
Officers then arrived to take Wood into custody without incident, according to Urteaga.
He remains jailed on a bond of $150,000 on requested charges of Assault and Aggravated Criminal Threat and transported to the Finney County Jail. The case has been turned over to the Finney County Attorney’s Office for further review.