Ex-employee is charged with threatening golf course employees

A man from Springfield is charged with threatening two people with a gun at a country club in the northwest part of the city on Monday. Greene County prosecutors charged Donald Weber, 56, on Tuesday with unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of attempted felonious restraint.

The probable cause statement against Weber says he is a former employee at the Springfield Golf & Country Club. Police believe he approached his former boss and another man on Monday about 12:30 p.m., drew a gun and told the men to handcuff themselves and go into an office.

The men eventually ran. One of them got a gun from his truck. Police arrested Weber at the scene.

On Monday about 12:35 p.m., officers were dispatched to Springfield Golf and Country Club, 3106 E. Valley Water Mill Road., for a report of a man with a gun possibly trying to take hostages. Officers received information from dispatch that the man was possibly in a maintenance shed near the clubhouse. Several officers responded to the area near the clubhouse and maintenance building.

Officer Jonnathan Bartel arrived and along with other officers found a man sitting on a golf cart near the maintenance building. Officers called the man to their location and he walked to them. The man said he had been involved in the reported disturbance.

Officer Bartel put that man in handcuffs. He is Donald Weber. Weber voluntarily stated, "Jason pulled a gun on me." Officer Bartel asked Weber if he had a gun and Weber answered, "In my van."

Acting Cpl. Dak Henning also was at the scene. He interviewed Weber after advising him of the Miranda Rights. Weber said he used to work on the grounds crew for the golf course under his former supervisor, Jason Korte. Weber said he saw Korte near the maintenance building today and they became involved in an argument.

Weber said he followed Korte to Korte's vehicle where Korte got a handgun. Weber said he went to his vehicle and got his gun also. Weber reported he and Korte pointed their guns at one another for a few moments before Korte ran away on foot.

Henning also spoke with Korte. Korte said Weber used to work for him. He said Weber had not been re-employed due to problems with Weber and the apartment complex associated with the golf course. Korte said he began carrying a gun for protection due to Weber's behavior.

Korte said he and his boss, Dennis Collins, were on the south side of the maintenance building around 12:30 when he saw Weber arrive in a golf cart. Korte said Weber approached them in the golf cart and, when he got close, Weber displayed a handgun and got out of the golf cart.

Korte said Weber threw two pair of silver colored handcuffs on the ground in front of him and Collins. He reported Weber pointed the gun at them and told them to put the handcuffs on. Korte reported he tried to talk to Weber but Weber threatened to shoot both of them if they didn't put on the handcuffs on and go in the office.

Korte said he picked up the handcuffs and he and Collins walked into the maintenance building ahead of Weber. Korte said he ran through the maintenance building toward his vehicle. Korte said he threw down the handcuffs and got his handgun from his truck.

Korte said he approached the maintenance building entrance and took cover behind another truck. Korte said Weber came to the door and the two of them yelled back and forth at one another before Weber walked back into the maintenance building. Korte said he then ran away from the building.

Henning also interviewed Collins. Collins said he was with Korte when they were approached by Weber, whom he did not know. Collins said Weber displayed a handgun and threw two pair of silver colored handcuffs on the ground and told him and Korte to put them on.

Collins said Weber pointed the gun at them and threatened to shoot them. He said Weber told them to put on the handcuffs and go in the office. Collins said Korte picked up the handcuffs and they walked in the shed. He said Korte took off running and Weber followed Korte. Collins said he fled from the maintenance building.

Weber was arrested and jailed on suspicion of assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Weber's Dodge van was on the parking lot near the maintenance building. Henning said a golf cart was parked near Weber's van. Henning said he searched a golf bag on the cart and found a holster and cell phone. He also found a holster in a storage area in the dash of the cart.

A detective tried to interview Weber in the Greene County Jail on Monday. He said he was "Defending my life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." Weber said there had been an incident in which guns had been pointed. He chose not to provide any additional information.

Weber's Dodge van was towed to Police Headquarters and secured in the garage. Officer Bartel had been told by Weber that his handgun was inside his van.

On Tuesday, a detective got a search warrant for the van. Here’s what he found:

-- a 9mm handgun inside a zippered binder beneath the driver's seat

-- a gun magazine with live ammunition in the gun

-- a live round/cartridge casing in the chamber of the gun

-- a single pair of silver colored handcuffs inside the zippered binder

-- another gun magazine loaded with live ammunition beneath the zippered binder under the driver's seat

Weber, who lives near the country club, is in the Greene County jail in lieu of a $45,000 bond. If he's convicted, he could receive prison sentences up to four years on each of the three charges.