Man from Texas County Pleads Guilty to Assaulting and Threatening Officers at Fort Leonard Wood

A man from Texas County is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of assaulting and threatening to kill federal officers at Fort Leonard Wood.

Investigators say 32-year-old James Dickens stole a car on the night of June 10, 2023 before driving to the north gate of the fort.

He allegedly made multiple threats to those at the gate, and showed them he had an axe in the vehicle.

Officers say he fled the scene, which led to a high-speed chase that ended with him crashing into a drop-arm barrier. Authorities surrounded the vehicle as Dickens yelled and threatened those at the scene.

Dickens said “if you tase me, I’ll kill you,” to one of the officers as they tried to apprehend him.

He eventually was tased after he began to run towards an officer at the scene.

Those at the scene said Dickens threatened to kill officers multiple times. Paramedics later arrived to evaluate his health.

It was during that time that he allegedly spit on an officer, and a paramedic, and also headbutted one of the officers trying to restrain him to a gurney.

Because the accusations occurred on a military base, to a federal officer, the charges are federal. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Dickens is subject to 18 years in federal prison for pleading guilty to assaulting and threatening federal officers.