A Roland man accused of allegedly breaking into his neighbors’ apartment and threatening to kill them with a knife has been formally charged in Sequoyah County District Court.
Jimmy L. Foster, 55, of Roland, was charged Sept. 10 with first-degree burglary and threatening to perform an act of violence following a violent confrontation at his apartment complex earlier that month. Foster pleaded not guilty to both charges and is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters for a felony disposition docket at 9 a.m. on Nov. 5.
According to an affidavit filed by Roland Police officer Coby Phelps, officers were dispatched around 7 p.m. on Sept. 4 to an apartment complex on Taylor Drive after receiving reports that a man armed with a knife was threatening to kill other residents.
Upon arrival, two women pointed out the suspect, later identified as Foster. Phelps said he ordered Foster to show his hands and come down from an apartment staircase before patting him down for weapons.
Foster reportedly told police he had purchased $40 worth of marijuana for $120 from his neighbors, and went to their door demanding his money back. Foster denied entering their apartment or possessing a knife, instead claiming that one of the residents had pulled a box knife on him.
However, multiple witnesses provided statements contradicting Foster’s account.
One of the residents told police that around 1 p.m. that day, Foster began yelling that she and another person had robbed him and threatened to kill them.
She said Foster threw a bag of marijuana into their home and poured it out on the floor. Later that evening, around 7 p.m., she alleged Foster “busted through the doorway” of their apartment while wielding a silver kitchen knife with a six-inch blade, shouting threats to kill them.
One of the other residents gave a similar account, saying Foster spent much of the afternoon threatening to kill them and at one point kicked in their screen door.
Around 7 p.m., the resident said Foster broke in with the knife and threatened them again. When the resident attempted to call 911, Foster reportedly fled back to his apartment to hide the knife.
Two additional witnesses also told police they saw or heard Foster making threats. One witness said Foster had been yelling racial slurs and threatening to kill her since early that afternoon. The witness said she saw Foster holding a silver pocket knife while shouting at another resident, threatening to “cut [him] up.”
Foster was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation before being booked into jail.
Under Oklahoma law, first-degree burglary is punishable by seven to 20 years in prison, while the threaten to perform an act of violence charge carries up to six months imprisonment.
