Search for man with weapon underway on Hwy. 109 in Wildwood

Missouri Hwy. 109 between Shepard Road and Highway BA temporarily was closed on the morning on Fri., July 30 as St. Louis County police officers searched the surrounding woods for a 34-year-old man who had a standoff with them before midnight on July 29 in a house in the vicinity. 

St. Louis County Police Officer Rick Eckhard said police went door-to-door to alert residents about the search for a man they identified as James E. Hardy II.  Eckhard said police have had previous dealings with Hardy, who is a Wildwood resident.

Eckhard said police got a call at approximately 10:30 p.m. regarding Hardy's state of agitation. When police arrived, Hardy came out of the house carrying a rifle. Police officers fired at him.  When he ran back in the house, he fled out the back of it before officers could surround the home.

Eckhard said Hardy had been on the run all night. 

The last sighting of the man was approximately 6 a.m. on July 30 when a resident saw him shirtless and wearing blue jeans, running through the woods, Eckhard said.

Eckhard said a weapon had been found, but they are considering Hardy as "still possibly armed."

"We have a lot of manpower in the area, including Wildwood officers, our tactical (SWAT) team, canine officers and the Missouri Highway Patrol," he said. 

Eckhard said they are concerned about Hardy's mental well-being.