Suspect in Richland sword incident to get mental evaluation

Steven Lee Houtrouw, 29, the Richland man accused of wielding a sword while trying to break into a church earlier this week, has been ordered to get a mental health evaluation.

Houtrouw appeared Friday in Benton County Superior Court on one count of attempted first-degree burglary.

The case was put on hold while the court waits for Houtrouw to be checked out by Eastern State Hospital. In the meantime, he remains in custody on $50,000 bail.

Houtrouw tried to break a glass door to the main entrance at Central United Protestant Church, according to police and court documents. When that didn’t work, he went to the chapel doors and again hit the window with the handle of his katana-like sword.

Christ the King School and a nearby daycare went into lockdown until police could subdue Houtrouw with Tasers.

Houtrouw yelled at police to shoot him, and later told officers he wanted to be more than a “nobody” and wanted to be “somebody,” documents said.

Houtrouw’s sister, Kerry Bragg, told the Herald he has struggled with mental impairments, including schizophrenia, that began to surface when he was in his early 20s.

Bragg doesn’t believe Houtrouw intended to harm anyone but himself, she said.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Suspect in Richland sword incident to get mental evaluation."