Man accused of shooting Pettis County deputies appears in court
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man who was charged in federal court after he was accused of shooting two Pettis County deputies on Friday appeared in court on Tuesday in Jefferson City.
James Elsea, 62, was charged in the Western District Court of Missouri with being a felon with a gun. Court filings show that he is being represented by a public defender and that he appeared for a hearing on Tuesday. He is being held at the Cole County Jail. A mugshot was not available. He also appeared for a hearing on Monday. His next hearing date was not published.
Court documents in previous reporting say that a SWAT team served a “no-knock” warrant at 5:43 a.m. Friday in the 27000 block of Route BB. The warrant was issued in relation to possible meth trafficking. The complaint says Elsea is “known to be armed.”
One deputy was hit above their knee and the other was shot near their calf. One SWAT member returned fire, the complaint says.
One of the injured SWAT members was brought to University Hospital with a shattered femur and was sent to surgery. The other was brought to Bothwell Hospital and was eventually released the same day, the complaint says.