A Macon man faces a felony charge after prosecutors allege he threatened a woman with a steak knife outside her apartment, according to court records filed June 16 in Macon County Circuit Court.
Tristan P. Boettcher, of Macon, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon by exhibiting, a class E felony, and peace disturbance, a class B misdemeanor. Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Meisner filed the two-count complaint in case 26MA-CR00177.
According to a probable cause statement by Macon Police Sgt. Andre Williams, officers were called to the apartment building about 8:40 p.m. June 15 for a report of a man with a knife yelling at neighbors. The complaint alleges Boettcher knowingly exhibited a steak knife in an angry or threatening manner.
A neighbor told officers that Boettcher came out of his apartment with the knife and stood at the bottom of the stairway leading to her unit, the statement says. The two live in the same building, and she said she has to pass his apartment when she leaves; she reported feeling afraid and threatened.
Surveillance video captured Boettcher yelling curses and anti-gay slurs, according to the statement, which noted it was the second time that day officers had responded to the address for a disturbance. The misdemeanor count alleges he directed offensive, derogatory words at the woman in a face-to-face manner.
When officers arrived, Boettcher went inside his apartment, locked the door and refused to come out, telling officers he would not go to jail and that they would need a search warrant, the statement says. He exited after his roommate arrived on scene.
Judge Frederick Tucker signed an arrest warrant June 16, and bond was set at $10,000, cash only, court records show. The warrant lists unlimited extradition.
The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court; Boettcher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is pending in Macon County Circuit Court.