Man arrested after attempting to choke victim with cord

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott County man is in custody after allegedly attempting to choke someone with a cord from a telephone charger.

Stephen Shipley, 59, is charged with the felonies of second degree domestic assault and resisting/interfering with arrest for a felony.

At approximately 5:40 p.m. Monday, Scott County Sheriff Deputy Nathan Rapert responded to a residence on Michael Drive in Sikeston for a report of a domestic assault.

"During the incident Shipley began choking the victim of the assault with a cord from a cellphone charger," said Sheriff Wes Drury. "Before deputies arrived on scene, Shipley had left the residence and was reportedly armed with a firearm."

While the incident was under investigation, Shipley returned to the residence and refused to cooperate with any commands from the deputy, Drury said in a news release. Sikeston Department of Public Safety and Missouri State Highway Patrol were requested to assist Rapert with Shipley's arrest, however, just before additional officers arrived, Rapert was able to take Shipley into custody without incident.

Although Shipley was armed with a firearm at the time, he never displayed the firearm toward the deputy, the sheriff reported.

Shipley is currently being held in the Scott County Jail on a $25,000 cash only bond.

Drury thanked Sikeston DPS and the Missouri State Highway Patrol for their assistance with the incident.