PHILLIPS, Wis. (WSAU) - The man accused of threatening a church youth group with a gun in Price County believes he’s innocent, and there isn’t evidence to show a crime was committed. 28-year-old Jesse Rutherford of Big Bend is not waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, as he wants the judge to decide if there’s probable cause of a crime being committed.
Rutherford is accused of approaching the group of young people camping in a yard with a gun in hand, and telling them to get on their knees and then help him get his truck out of a nearby ditch. This happened on May 18th, and someone actually caught much of the incident on video.
Until the Judge Douglas Fox reviews the video and perhaps other evidence, Rutherford is free on a $5,000 cash bond. No new court dates have been scheduled.
Along with the charges of recklessly endangering safety, Rutherford also faces charges of possessing drugs and paraphernalia, possessing a firearm while intoxicated, and operating a vehicle with a revoked driver’s license.
The incident happened about 25 miles south of Phillips.