Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 28

Missouri Deputies Arrest 28-Year-Old Wedding Guest, Set $20,000 Bond After Bear Spray Altercation

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 28

Missouri Deputies Arrest 28-Year-Old Wedding Guest, Set $20,000 Bond After Bear Spray Altercation

Q: What led a Missouri man to assault his own mother at a wedding celebration?

What led to the assault is not fully known, but authorities say Benjamin J. Reeders arrived at the wedding event in “emotional distress” and then became violent. According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the 28-year-old Missouri man was involved in multiple altercations before the ceremony at Sunset Bluffs in Washington, Missouri. During that episode, he allegedly assaulted several people, including a photographer who suffered minor injuries, and pushed his mother to the ground. The available reports do not identify a specific trigger beyond his distressed state. Witness accounts and the sheriff’s office description indicate his behavior escalated quickly and continued even after a family member used bear spray in an attempt to stop him. Deputies said he was still combative when they arrived and that he resisted arrest. He was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault, third-degree assault, and resisting arrest, with bond set at $20,000. The venue said the wedding ultimately went ahead as planned after the disturbance. So, based on the information released so far, the immediate factor cited by authorities was that Reeders showed up emotionally distressed and then turned aggressive, but no deeper motive or cause for attacking his mother has been publicly established.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 28

Benjamin J. Reeders, 28, was arrested after deputies said he assaulted several people at a wedding-related event at Sunset Bluffs in Washington, Missouri, and then resisted arrest.
Witnesses told deputies Reeders injured a photographer, pushed his mother to the ground and remained combative even after a family member used bear spray on him before officers arrived.
Franklin County authorities charged him with fourth-degree assault, third-degree assault and resisting arrest, and set his cash bond at $20,000.
Sunset Bluffs said the incident happened while a small group from the wedding party was getting ready, and the venue said the wedding still went ahead as planned.