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BELLEVILLE -- Charges have been filed against 46-year-old Samuel Rufus Yoder of Belleville stemming from an incident at 20 Kish Creek Lane in Belleville Thursday morning.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Mifflin County Regional Police, Yoder, who has a history of mental health issues, reportedly entered the Amish School with a rifle at about 10:24 a.m.
Robert Haubrick Jr. and Steven Yoder, after hearing reports of the incident, approached the schoolhouse and witnessed Samuel Yoder exiting with a firearm. The two men were able to retrieve the firearm from the suspect without incident. The weapon, identified as a .22 caliber pump rifle with a wood stock, was transferred to MCRP officers upon their arrival at the scene.
After leaving the school, the suspect walked to Steven Yoder's residence nearby. The suspect forcefully entered the residence by kicking in a door and walked through the downstairs holding a large stick.
A female juvenile went to the second floor of the residence because she was scared of what Yoder intended to do at the house. She heard the suspect knock on the door and then heard him break open the door and enter the residence. The witness stated that she could hear Yoder kicking things around in the kitchen and living room area.
Authorities eventually located Yoder at his residence several hundred yards away. Officers entered a single lane bridge that had been blocked by a small bulldozer. They proceeded on foot and witnessed the suspect exiting his residence and walking towards his barn. Officers instructed the suspect to place himself on the ground and put his hands behind his back. He complied with officers and was taken into custody without incident.
Charges filed against Yoder include possession of a weapon on school property, burglary of an occupied structure and criminal trespass.
Also responding during the incident were the Lewistown Police Department, Granville Township Police Department, Mifflin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania State Police and a MCRPD mental health co-responder.