AVA, Mo. — A 37 year old Ava man faces multiple charges after a Douglas County deputy reported finding trash and tires placed in a county road while investigating an ongoing dispute between neighbors.
John David Kraatz, 37, of Ava, is charged with two counts of first degree harassment, resisting or interfering with arrest for a felony and littering, according to a probable cause statement filed Sept. 16 in Douglas County Circuit Court.
Douglas County Circuit Judge Elizabeth A. Bock found probable cause and issued a warrant with no bond Sept. 16. Kraatz was served with the warrant at 4:18 p.m. that day. He appeared for arraignment Sept. 17, and a bond reduction hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, before Bock.
According to the probable cause statement filed by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jesse Three Eagles, the investigation began Sept. 15 when Kraatz contacted dispatch and reported that a neighbor was yelling at him and had thrown beer bottles onto his property. The deputy wrote that the Sheriff’s Office had received a report from a neighbor six days earlier alleging Kraatz had been littering along County Road 207, driving erratically and discharging firearms during overnight hours.
Three Eagles reported that while traveling along County Road 207, he found a large amount of trash and several tires placed in the roadway for approximately 100 yards, ending near Kraatz’s driveway. According to the statement, Kraatz told the deputy he had been cleaning out his fence line so his neighbors could pick up the material.
The deputy also questioned Kraatz about reports of gunfire. Kraatz allegedly denied having firearms and told Three Eagles that another neighbor had been responsible for the shooting and that he possessed only a crossbow. The deputy wrote that Kraatz became agitated after being told the trash needed to be removed from the roadway.
Three Eagles then spoke with a neighbor, whose name is redacted from the public probable cause statement. The neighbor reportedly said Kraatz had moved to the property about three months earlier and that problems began after a disagreement involving a side by side being driven along the county road. The neighbor alleged Kraatz later began making obscene gestures and yelling profanities toward members of the family.
The statement also alleges Kraatz had placed a no trespassing sign across from the neighbor’s driveway containing language threatening that trespassers would be shot.
When Three Eagles returned to Kraatz’s property, he again told Kraatz to remove the material from the roadway. Kraatz allegedly said he had been smoking and could not legally drive and that previous injuries prevented him from carrying the items. According to the deputy, Kraatz then stated, “I’m gonna handle things my way from now on.”
Three Eagles reported that he later directed Kraatz to place his hands behind his back. Kraatz allegedly entered the driver’s seat of a vehicle and shut the door while the deputy attempted to remove him. The deputy wrote that Kraatz ignored repeated orders to exit the vehicle and continued pulling away and turning toward him after being removed. Kraatz was eventually handcuffed and transported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, where he was placed on a 24 hour investigative hold.
Douglas County Road Department employees later removed the trash and tires from the roadway, according to the statement. The two people identified as alleged harassment victims told authorities they wished to pursue charges.
Kraatz is represented by attorney Chase Edmond Opolka, according to the court docket.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
