An elderly Cookeville man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to force his estranged wife into a van at gunpoint. It happened around 6pm Saturday (10/5/24) at a residence on Ackia Drive in Tansi.
According to a report from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the victim told police she had noticed a white van following her from Dunbar Road, but did not realize that the driver was her husband, 79-year-old Douglas Willard McCallister, of Cookeville. The victim said she and Mr. McCallister have been separated for months pending a divorce. The victim said as she was turning to exit her vehicle, Mr. McCallister was already in her face and said, “You’re going with me.” When she refused, he reportedly said to her,”I’ll kill you here.” The victim said McCallister had a gun in his hand and tried to force her into the van.
A neighbor across the street yelled for McCallister to “stop” and then yelled for his brother to call 911 after McCallister reportedly raised his hand and showed that he had a gun.
At some point, McCallister laid his gun on the back seat and that’s when another witness grabbed McCallister and wrestled him to the ground away from the gun. He told McCallister he was detained and Tansi police arrived shortly.
Douglas McCallister has been charged with Aggravated Domestic Assault, Aggravated Assault, and Attempted Especially Aggravated Kidnapping. The police report lists his bond at $70,000 and he is due in General Session Court on October 21, 2024.