By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
A rural Joplin man, who was charged Friday with assaulting a law-enforcement officer at the Swimmin’ Hole Water Park, apparently committed suicide Monday, authorities said.
Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said authorities were dispatched to the home of 65-year-old Cecil Scribner at 1:06 p.m. Monday in response to reports of a man not breathing. There, they found Scribner dead.
“At this point, it appears to be a suicide,” Copeland said, citing both the scene and a note left by Scribner, an employee of the water park.
Copeland said authorities were awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests for the specific cause of death. He said there was no evidence of firearms or cutting instruments being used in Scribner’s apparent suicide.
Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges said the autopsy will take place today in Springfield.
Scribner on Friday was arrested and charged with one felony and one misdemeanor count of assault on a law-enforcement officer after authorities said he physically resisted Newton County deputies. He was released from jail after posting bond Friday night.
“The family said he was very upset about his behavior from Friday,” Copeland said Monday afternoon.
The sheriff said he would not comment as to the contents of Scribner’s note, out of sensitivity to the family at this time, although he said the note could be released later.
Scribner was arrested not long after noon Friday, when authorities arrived at the Swimmin’ Hole Water Park to verify that the owner, James Burt, had proof of $1 million in liability insurance as required by a new state law. The park reopened Friday, almost two years after 6-year-old Ethan Cory drowned there while on an outing with the Boys & Girls Club of Joplin.
Copeland previously told the Globe that he and Burt were discussing the new insurance requirements when Scribner kept trying to interject himself into the conversation.
Sheriff’s Capt. Richard Leavens, who was with Copeland, alleged that Scribner at some point shoved a sheriff’s deputy. When Leavens confronted him, he said, Scribner allegedly tried to gouge his eye with his thumb. Scribner was subdued by several deputies and taken out of the park in handcuffs.
Burt said Copeland’s deputies, who he termed “henchmen,” put their hands on Scribner first. He also accused the authorities of unnecessarily deploying a Taser against Scribner. Authorities said a Taser was drawn but never used.
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