Meat cleaver attempted attack lands man in jail

DUNCAN — A 65-year-old Duncan man is in jail after he was accused of attempting to attack first responders with a meat cleaver.

Stanley Levern Reffner Jr. made his initial appearance Friday in Stephens County District Court where he received seven felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, records indicate. Each count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Duncan Police Officer Kaleb Keplinger stated he was called shortly after 2:45 a.m. March 14 to the Duncan Plaza Apartments, 3625 N. U.S. 81, to an unknown medical alarm. He arrived to find fire personnel by an open door.

A firefighter told Keplinger that Reffner had threatened first responders with a meat cleaver, swinging it at them and telling them to shoot while advancing and then retreating down the hallway, the probable cause affidavit states. Keplinger stated he went to Reffner’s apartment and the older man exited in an aggressive manner while brandishing a meat cleaver.

Reffner advanced, then held the cleaver to his throat and yelled “shoot me,” the affidavit states. Reffner began to “mumble incoherently: before dropping the cleaver and running into his apartment and shutting the door,” according to Keplinger.

Reffner was arrested with the assistance of a firefighter. Duncan police had dealt with Reffner threatening suicide several times before the incident, according to the affidavit.

Reffner returns to court at 9 a.m. May 29 for his preliminary hearing conference, records indicate.