๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
- Raw Pettis
- May 26
- 2 min read
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ: ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฐ. ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐, ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐, ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐. ๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ.
On May 13, 2026, deputies with the Miller County Sheriffโs Office responded to Highway 52 near 2212 Highway 52 in reference to a stalled vehicle blocking a lane of traffic. Shortly after arriving on scene, Woods Towing arrived to remove the vehicle.
During the incident, an individual traveling eastbound on Highway 52 stopped and spoke with deputies regarding Russell Edward Yoder, who was reportedly the owner of the stalled vehicle. The individual appeared visibly upset, shaking, and speaking rapidly. The individual stated Yoder was walking eastbound approximately 200 yards from the disabled vehicle. The individual stated he attempted to assist Yoder after Yoder said he had run out of gas. Yoder became agitated and demanded a ride home. The individual reported that Yoder was armed with multiple firearms and allegedly made statements about killing law enforcement officers and sheriffs. Deputies advised dispatch and other responding deputies of the reported threats.
While deputies continued directing traffic, deputies then observed a silver Ford Maverick driven by a subject matching Yoderโs description approach the scene and allegedly fail to obey traffic directions. A deputy parked their patrol vehicle in front of the tow truck, blocking the roadway. Due to the previously reported threats, deputies drew their service weapons and ordered Yoder to show his hands. Deputies stated Yoder complied and was removed from the vehicle and placed against the bed of the truck. During a search of the Maverick, deputies recovered a Walther PPQ handgun from the passenger seat of the Ford Maverick.
The probable cause statement further noted multiple prior contacts between Yoder and the Miller County Sheriffโs Office during April and May 2026, including prior incidents in which Yoder allegedly threatened law enforcement officers. Deputies also stated that Yoder was known from prior contacts to possess firearms. Yoder is now charged with kidnapping in the first degree and armed criminal action.
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