SALEM, IL — Bail has been set at $20,000 for a 23-year-old Salem man charged in Marion County Court in connection with an armed incident Wednesday.

According to Salem police, Matthew Whiting allegedly held off Salem police for approximately two hours Wednesday at a home in the 200 block of West Warmoth Street. Officers had responded to the home after receiving a report of a domestic battery incident between Whiting and his brother.

Upon their arrival at the home, Whiting was reportedly in his bedroom with the door open.

Reports indicate he was armed with a hatchet and threatened to use the weapon on officers.
He then reportedly held a sword to his own neck and threatened to kill himself.

Police were staged in the living room of the home when Whiting reportedly asked for strawberry milk and a Klondike bar.

While he was distracted with the snacks, police were able to grab the hatchet and throw it out of Whiting’s reach.

They were later able to grab the sword blade while wearing a pair of gloves and also throw it out of reach.

As he was being placed into handcuffs, Whiting reportedly resisted officers and was ultimately tazed before officers were able to get him into the handcuffs.

He was formally charged in court Thursday with Class 3 felony being a felon in possession of a weapon, and misdemeanor domestic battery and resisting a police officer.