Dilworth man in jail after stealing cigarettes, threatening clerk with knife

A Dilworth man is in jail after a bizarre standoff with police this weekend. Forty-six year-old James Jones is facing a long list of charges, including theft and threatening a convenience store clerk.

Police say Jones tried to steal a pack of cigarettes from a Stamart on 12th Avenue North Saturday. Instead of cash, he gave the clerk an IOU. Jones ran and when the clerk chased him Jones showed the clerk a 12 inch knife in a sheath attached to his belt. The clerk called police.

Police had a 5 minute standoff with Jones, who yelled at the cops to shoot him. Fargo Police say the clerk's brave decision could have quickly turned dangerous.

Lt. Joel Vettel – Fargo Police: "People often lose the availability to communicate with law enforcement, you lose the safety of a building, the safety of really having the confines of a building instead of being out in the open."

Jones arrest is one of 35 arrests over the weekend.

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