A man was taken into custody early Sunday morning following an extended standoff that lasted for over eight hours in Mad River Township.
Brett Henderson, a resident of West U.S. Highway 36, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of Inducing Panic and Obstructing Official Business after he climbed into a tree stand outside his home and began yelling profanities at people in the area, including passing motorists. Deputies from the Champaign County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene around 7:01 p.m. on Saturday, June 27.
Despite repeated verbal warnings from deputies, Henderson continued to cause a disturbance, prompting an hour-long standoff that lasted until 3:40 a.m. on Sunday. He voluntarily climbed down from the tree stand and was taken into custody without incident.
Henderson appeared in Champaign County Municipal Court on Monday for arraignment, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. His arraignment has been continued to July 7 to allow time for him to hire a defense attorney. As part of his bond agreement, Henderson is required to seek mental health treatment immediately.
This incident remains under investigation by the Champaign County Sheriff's Office. Formal charges will be determined by the appropriate prosecuting authority.