Man Reportedly Duped into Believing Bar Patrons Held Hostage

A 23-year-old West Des Moines man reportedly armed with a pocket knife who was trying to get in local bar after closing time one morning last week told police he thought there were hostages inside who needed his help.

West Des Moines Police Officer Curtis Russell was dispatched to Cabaret West Glen, 560 S. Prairie View Drive, shortly after 2 a.m. on May 27 after employees of the bar reported an intoxicated man trying to get back into the bar was possibly armed with a knife.

When Russell arrived, the suspect was sprinting toward his patrol car from approximately 30 yards away, according to a report on file at the police department. The suspect reportedly stopped when  Russell asked to do so, and was cooperative. He had a collapsed knife in his pocket, according to the report.

The would-be  white knight reportedly explained to police that two girls had told him people were being held hostage in the bar and they needed his help. He said he tried to call police, but didn’t have cellular service, and as a Marine who had served overseas two years ago, he had attempted a rescue on his own.

The man was arrested, charged with public intoxication and released to a sober third party. He reportedly had a blood alcohol content of .146.