ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, Mo. – A manhunt for a man accused of sodomy and arson ended Wednesday evening.
Police say Michael Pender, 21, was located inside a car near where it all started and was taken into custody.
At least seven law enforcement agencies were looking for Pender and had deployed seven K-9 teams, a helicopter, and a thermal imaging drone in their search.
According to a St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, a deputy tried to take Michael D. Pender into custody just after 7 a.m. Wednesday outside a convenience store in Iron Mountain Lake on an outstanding warrant for sodomy and forcible sodomy.
The sheriff’s department claims Pender was on an ATV and took off to avoid arrest, but the deputy jumped on the vehicle to try and stop him.
“Drug the deputy down to right here at this intersection and threw the deputy from the 4-wheeler, causing moderate injuries to the deputy,” Sgt. Tim Harris, St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department, said.
As of Wednesday night, the deputy has some cuts and bruises and is awaiting to see if there are any broken bones, according to police.
In addition to sodomy charges, Pender is facing pending charges for arson and felony assault on law enforcement, among others.
“It’s sad; the people in the community, you know, they’re hurting from it,” Hailey Helm, a former classmate of Pender, said. “I went to school with this kid; I grew up with him, and it’s just disappointing to see sometimes how things turn out.”
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