Darian Joseph Richter

A 24-year-old Oskaloosa man who had a felony warrant for his arrest was in the Douglas County Jail on Thursday after Lawrence police officers said he threatened them with a knife at Wal-Mart, 550 Congressional Drive.

Lawrence police officers learned Darian Joseph Richter, wanted for escaping felony parole on Dec. 9, was at the Lawrence Wal-Mart late Wednesday and that he was “possibly armed and would likely resist arrest,” Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said.

Three officers responded to the store and found Richter inside, recognizing him from a photograph, McKinley said. When officers stopped him, they asked Richter his name, which he refused to divulge, according to McKinley.

While confronting Richter just inside Wal-Mart’s front door, one of the officers noticed that Richter was manipulating something inside his pocket, McKinley said. The officer then ordered Richter to take his hands out of his pocket, but Richter again refused, McKinley said.

When an officer advised Richter that the officer had a warrant for his arrest, the officer grabbed Richter’s wrist, attempting to handcuff him, McKinley said. Richter “immediately began to resist arrest,” McKinley said, and pulled a knife from his pocket.

Officers tried to control the knife, which had the blade extended, but Richter would not drop the weapon, McKinley said. An officer then used his baton “to pry the knife from the suspect’s hand” as the other officers worked to hold Richter on the ground, McKinley said.

When Lawrence police were able to eventually secure the knife and handcuff Richter, they discovered the man had drug paraphernalia and “a substance believed to be marijuana” in his possession during the incident, McKinley said.

McKinley said other shoppers might have witnessed the incident, as it took place in a public space.

Richter suffered a small cut to his finger during the tussle. After paramedics treated him, officers arrested Richter on suspicion of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, obstruction of the legal process and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia late Wednesday.

Richter remains in the Douglas County Jail without bond and on hold for the warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections. Richter has a previous conviction of aggravated burglary out of Jefferson County, according to KDOC records. He was released from prison to parole Oct. 7.