Pender Captured after Manhunt

(St. Francois County, MO) St. Francois County Sheriff's officials are announcing the capture of Michael Pender after an hours long manhunt Wednesday. A post on the St. Francois County Sheriff's Facebook page shows At approximately 8:40 pm Wednesday Pender was taken into custody without further incident. Deputies performed a traffic stop on a vehicle in front of the Roy’s Convenience store where the manhunt began. Pender was located in the passenger seat and quickly taken into custody. Reports indicate the incident began Wednesday morning around 7:15 at the Roy's Convenience Store at Highway N and Parkway Drive. A Deputy attempted to take Pender into custody on an outstanding warrant for sodomy charges and pending charges of arson and felony assault on law enforcement. The deputy received minor injuries during a struggle with Pender who ran off. Pender is alleged to have threatened to shoot law enforcement officers.