ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, Mo. – A manhunt is underway in rural St. Francois County for a man accused of sodomy and arson.
According to a St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, a deputy tried to take Michael D. Pender into custody at a convenience store in Iron Mountain Lake on an outstanding warrant for sodomy and forcible sodomy.
Pender fought and struggled against the deputy, then escaped. The sheriff’s department claimed the deputy suffered moderate injuries.
Pender was last seen in the area of Highway N and Iron Mountain Cemetery Road.
Iron Mountain Lake is approximately 82 miles south of St. Louis.
The sheriff’s department said Pender should be considered armed and dangerous and has made prior threats to shoot law enforcement.
In addition to the sodomy charges, Pender is facing pending charges for arson and felony assault on law enforcement, among others.
Anyone who sees Pender or has knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately to contact their nearest law enforcement agency. Authorities are asking residents in the area to avoid traveling on four-wheelers and not walk in the woods around Iron Mountain Lake due to the presence of K9 units.
