Rooftop suspect threatens to kill Pasco mission workers

Police say a man climbed onto the roof of the Union Gospel Mission in Pasco on Wednesday, refusing to come down and threatening to kill staff at the homeless center.

John Morgan Lutes, 30, was arrested after he was taken off the roof by police and fire officials on a backboard. Firefighters used a ladder to reach Lutes on the roof.

Lutes likely got on the roof by an outside fire escape and started to cause a commotion, said Andrew Porter, mission director.

Staff at the mission tried to get him down, but he was carrying a stick with a nail in it and making threats.

Police were called to the scene after Lutes refused to come down. He continued to refuse to get off the roof when officers arrived.

Porter told the Herald that staff didn’t believe Lutes was staying at the mission.

“That’s the first time we have ever had something like that happen,” Porter said.

Lutes was booked into the Franklin County jail on suspicion of making felony threats. Police say it didn’t appear Lutes was under the influence of drugs.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Rooftop suspect threatens to kill Pasco mission workers."