UPDATE: Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has charged Phillip D. Perkins, a 44-year-old Kansas City man, with the assault of two people at a gas station in the 6500 block of Raytown Road. Perkins was taken into custody after crashing a box truck into the church.
-----
Kansas City police arrested one man early Thursday morning after a slow-speed chase that ended with the suspect crashing into a Raytown church.
Raytown police said at 4:19 a.m., police were called to the 6500 block of Raytown Road regarding a man that brandished a sword. Police said the man made statements about believing in God and placed the sword against the necks of two people. Officers arrived as the man fled in a large box truck.
Raytown police said officers pursued the truck at slow speeds for more than 40 minutes. The suspect was driving a U-Haul, and police said four children were inside the vehicle. They deployed stop sticks twice to slow the truck.
After the pursuit through Raytown on Highway 350, the suspect crashed into the front entrance of First Baptist Church of Raytown. Police said the truck backed up and crashed into the doors a second time.
Police chase ends w/ @uhaul driver smashing into #Raytown #FirstBapttistChurch @kcpolice @RaytownPD pic.twitter.com/oHHAl9fY2D
— TJH (@THellhake) February 25, 2016
Raytown police said officers ordered the man out. Police said the man displayed a knife initially, but then came out without a weapon in his hands. Officers saw weapons on the man's person.
Raytown police said the man stepped away form the truck, but wouldn't comply with officers' orders. When the man started moving back toward the truck, where the children were, officers deployed a Taser and took the man into custody, police said.
Raytown police said the man had more than 20 weapons on his person, including knives, a sword and a blowgun.
Police said a woman and four children, ranging in age from 3 to 8 years old, were found in the truck. Police are working to determine the relationship between those in the truck, and they don't people anyone was being held against their will. Crews checked the children and woman for injuries, but no one was hurt.
Raytown police continue to investigate the incident.
Pastor Brandon Park arrived at the scene to see the front doors smashed in. He said he first thought it was an accident, or that someone might have targeted the church on purpose.
Two tow trucks helped get the U-Haul out so crews could start assessing the damage. Park said they were checking for any structural damage and don't know how much it's going to cost.
Closer look at damage @41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/7XWmVEmBCg
— Sarah Plake (@SarahPlakeTV) February 25, 2016
The crash won't affect service; parishioners can still access the church from a number of entrances.
------
