Aurora’s Bishop accused of unlawful possession of weapon, terrorist threat

Allegedly harassed residents at apartment complex, became aggressive towards Aurora-Marionville po
An Aurora man was arrested and booked into the Lawrence County Jail after he allegedly displayed harassing behavior towards residents at an apartment complex and later displayed threatening behavior towards Aurora-Marionville Police Department (AMPD) officers who arrived at the scene. Lance Bishop, 56, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, making a terrorist threat in the first degree, unlawful use of a weapon, first degree harassment, resisting arrest, armed criminal action and fourth degree assault.

Harrassing behavior reported
According to the probable cause statement in the case, on Sunday, Dec. 29, an AMPD officer spoke with a woman identified as Confidential Victim One (CV1), who told him that she was helping a friend move out of an apartment complex when a man who was wearing a bathrobe with a machete sheathed in a belt tied around his waist while holding a dog on a leash was muttering things like “I can have a gun if I want,” “I’m allowed to stand here and stare at you,” and “I hate you.” The woman said she asked the man what was happening, because no one was saying anything to him, at which point, she said he started jumping up and down with the dog in an aggressive manner.
The officer said he spoke with Bishop and asked him why he was harassing the victim. Bishop, the officer stated, claimed he did nothing wrong and was allowed to stand where he was and possess a machete.
The officer said he told Bishop that was true under normal circumstances, but the “statements and observations” made by the victim explained to him “constituted harassment,” and that Bishop needed to give her space to move out.
The officer said he tried to explain to Bishop how his actions were harassment but said that Bishop didn’t seem to understand what he was saying. He also said that Bishop threatened to report him to the “Chief of Police” and the “Attorney General.” The officer said he walked over to the victim to speak with her when Bishop started yelling for all police officers to get off of his property. The officer said he told Bishop to leave them alone, and then Bishop repeated the demand for all police to get off of his property or they “would regret it.” The officer said he again told Bishop to leave them alone, and Bishop went inside his residence.

Bishop alleged to come out of residence holding machete
The officer reported that a few moments later, Bishop reappeared at his carport doorway. Suspecting Bishop was armed, the officer said he shined his flashlight at him. He said Bishop became “irate” and allegedly began walking out with a three-foot machete in his hand. The officer said that it appeared that Bishop was walking towards him, so he unholstered his service weapon and held it at a “low ready” position, as Bishop yelled at him. The officer said that he told Bishop again to leave him and the others alone, and that no one wanted to get hurt. He said that Bishop yelled at him to leave and then went back inside his residence.

Other officers respond
The officer said he then moved to a concealed position and called for backup; other officers told people in the area to leave for their safety. Another officer at the scene who covered the back of Bishop’s residence reported that she heard him exit the back of his duplex with a rifle. The reporting officer went to the other officer’s position in the back of the house, but Bishop had gone back inside.
The reporting officer then went back to the front of the house, where other AMPD officers attempted to speak with Bishop. At one point, the officer said, Bishop said he would exit his duplex from the rear, but he had a “kill switch,” and if any officers tried anything, he would use it, which the officer said led him to believe that Bishop had a bomb.

Bishop allegedly resisted being taken into custody
Bishop eventually left the duplex, the officer said, and it was determined he wasn’t armed. The officers moved to arrest him, at which point Bishop allegedly tried to reenter his duplex. He also allegedly refused to give his arms to officers to handcuff him.
Officers entered Bishop’s duplex and reported finding a rifle, a gas mask, five machetes, a 9 mm pistol, a hatchet, and a stun baton/flashlight. According to the probable cause statement, Bishop pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in Tuscon, Ariz. in 2007.
Bishop appeared in court on Thursday, Jan. 2, where he waived formal arraignment. He was scheduled to reappear in court on Thursday, Jan. 9, for a bond hearing.