On Wednesday just before 11:00 p.m., Norfolk Police responded to Johnson Park, 101 E. Nebraska Ave., after receiving reports of a man threatening people with a knife. Witnesses reported the suspect threatened to kill a group of individuals, stating he would “chop them up” with a knife and later indicating he was going to retrieve a weapon from his bag. Fearing for their safety, the group fled the area and called 911.
Officers arrived within minutes and located the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Justus Peltier of Norfolk, near the northwest portion of the park. He was detained without incident. A serrated folding knife with an approximately four-inch blade was recovered near the suspect’s bicycle and seized as evidence.
The investigation determined Peltier had threatened a group of young people following a verbal dispute while they were playing basketball. Witnesses also reported he made statements about shooting them. During the investigation, officers observed Peltier making statements that suggested he was under the influence of controlled substances. He further admitted to using methamphetamine the previous day. Peltier was arrested for terroristic threats, He was housed in the Norfolk City Jail and later transferred to the Madison County Jail.