A Jefferson City man was placed on five years supervised probation for pleading guilty to a felony charge of threatening an off-duty police officer with a weapon in September of 2020.
During a hearing before Cole County Judge Dan Green, Richard Encinas, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a weapon. As part of his probation, Encinas must seek mental health treatment as needed.
The incident occurred at the Southside Barbershop on East Dunklin Street, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement.
The off-duty JCPD officer told investigators he had observed Encinas walking up to the mailbox of the business and beginning to shuffle through the mail. The off-duty officer came out of the shop and asked Encinas to move along.
Encinas continued to look through the mail, and the off-duty officer identified himself as being a police officer. He told Encinas to leave the mail alone or he would be arrested.
At that time, Encinas took out a fixed-blade knife from a sheath and held it in a threatening manner at the off-duty officer, also verbally threatening the officer.
Encinas left the area on foot and was located approximately one block south of the business. Authorities said he was still in possession of the knife when he was taken into custody.
The off-duty officer was brought to the area where Encinas was taken into custody and identified him as the man who had pulled the knife on him.
A witness corroborated what the off-duty officer reported had taken place.
Officers interviewed Encinas, who admitted he had no legal authority to touch or possess the mail in the business' mailbox. Authorities said Encinas claimed he was looking at a roster or ledger of names on the mailbox but offered no explanation as to why. Encinas also admitted to pulling out a knife and said he did so because he felt intimidated by the off-duty officer when he confronted him.