Charges against suspect in standoff withdrawn
A Phillips man who held police at bay during an armed standoff in March had charges against him withdrawn Wednesday. According to the office of Magisterial District Judge Wendy Dennis, all charges initially filed against William Rhoderick, 53, of 28 Hickory St. were withdrawn. However, a charge of disorderly conduct was added and then waived to court.
Officials said that following the hearing, Rhoderick was released from the Fayette County Prison and admitted to another facility for mental evaluation.
Police initially charged Rhoderick with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.
State police Cpl. Jeff Fisher said that police specialists and one of Rhoderick’s sons were able to talk Rhoderick from his home at 5:37 p.m. March 14 after he barricaded himself in there for about five hours.
Fisher said the standoff began just after noon and that Rhoderick’s wife, Ida Rhoderick, was initially in the home but was able to escape unharmed with police assistance soon after the incident began.
Rhoderick’s son, James Rhoderick, 21, told officials in March that his father, a Vietnam veteran, had been struggling with marital problems over the last few years and had recently threatened to kill himself.
Dozens of state police troopers swarmed the neighborhood March 14, including Special Emergency Response Team personnel, to surround the home.
No one was injured in the standoff.