Smyrna police use rubber bullets to end five-hour standoff

[QuietDan]

Well, here's a handful of news and no two ways about it:

 

Good on the Smyrna Police and a big assist goes to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office:

 

Smyrna police use rubber bullets to end five-hour standoff

 

SMYRNA — Smyrna police used rubber bullets to end a five-hour standoff early Wednesday.

 

The standoff started at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday when officers responded to a domestic situation at a home on Ella Street.

 

According to Police Chief Kevin Arnold, a man inside the home started firing shots after officers arrived.

Police said the man fired shots through a window after the SWAT team arrived.

 

Officers evacuated neighboring homes and cut power to the neighborhood in an attempt to draw the suspect outside.

 

At about 1:30 a.m., a police sniper shot the man with several rubber bullets and officers took him into custody.

 

The man's health was evaluated before police took him to jail.

 

http://www.dnj.com/article/20130410/NEWS06/304100018/Smyrna-police-use-rubber-bullets-end-five-hour-standoff

 

 

But wait! There's more! Three whole stories for the price of one:

 

Story two:

 

 

Standoff suspect was 'asking for officers to shoot him,'

says Smyrna Police Chief

 

SMYRNA — A five-hour standoff involving a suicidal man at an Ella Street home ended in dramatic fashion Tuesday night when a Smyrna Police sniper shot him with foam “less lethal” rounds to disable him as an entry team rushed into his home to bring him into custody.

 

Michael Cowger, 64, of 300 Ella Street, was charged with six counts of reckless endangerment and one count of aggravated domestic assault following the incident, which began around 7:30 p.m. when Smyrna 911 communications received a call from his wife stating Cowger was “upset, intoxicated and armed with a weapon,” according to Smyrna Police Chief Kevin Arnold.

 

Officers arrived at the home and could see Cowger walking through the home firing rounds from a handgun, according to Arnold. Those officers called for backup and soon the home was surrounded by officers from both the city police department and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, including the SPD SWAT team. RCSO deputies drove a Bearcat tactical armored vehicle to the scene to aid Smyrna Police.

 

Surrounding homes were quickly evacuated for the safety of other residents, Arnold added.

 

“Several attempts were made to get Mr. Cowger to communicate with our negotiators and he refused,” Arnold said. “The decision was made to cut all electricity to Mr. Cowger’s residence in the hopes this would get him to communicate, but he still refused to talk to us.”

 

Officers also deployed tear gas into the home in an attempt to get Cowger to come out, Arnold said, but as soon as the cannisters landed inside, Cowger started firing rounds from a weapon through a window in the direction of officers.

 

Instead of returning fire, Arnold said, officers at the scene utilized their training on suicidal individuals who try to get police officers to take their lives, and put a plan into action to bring Cowger into custody alive.

 

“The decision was made to deploy the Bearcat and establish an entry into the home through the garage,” Arnold explained. “This caused Mr. Cowger to finally to begin communicating with our negotiators.”

 

Those negotiations lasted for more than two hours with Cowger “asking for officers to shoot him several times in an attempt to commit suicide by cop,” Arnold said. “He even threatened to begin shooting through walls at the officers in an attempt to get them to engage him.”

 

But Cowger could have never guessed what was coming next, according to Arnold. Officers could see him through an upstairs window. He had barricaded himself in an office by placing a desk against the door.

 

SPD Officer Gary Schoon moved into position with a sniper rifle, and was given the all-clear to shoot Cowger with direct impact foam rounds, “a less lethal option,” Arnold said.

 

“Mr. Cowger was hit three times with these rounds and an entry team forced their way into the room, taking Mr. Cowger into custody,” Arnold said.

 

Cowger was taken from the scene to a hospital for a mental evaluation, where he remained on Tuesday, according to Arnold. He will be served with arrest warrants upon his release and a court date will then be set.

 

Arnold said Wednesday he was extremely proud of both his officers and those who assisted in the situation from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

 

“We could have, at one point, especially when officers could hear the bullets wizzing by their head, turned this place into a firing range, but we didn’t,” Arnold said. “The officers were able to rely on their training. They did an exceptional job, one I personally think was an exercise in patience and not just giving into this man’s silly demands.”

 

http://www.dnj.com/article/20130410/MICRO0501/304100024/Standoff-suspect-asking-officers-shoot-him-says-Smyrna-Police-Chief

 

 

And in the special bonus round . . . story three:

 

 

Democrats verify that party treasurer faces charges

 

MURFREESBORO — Rutherford County Democratic Party spokesman Mike Williams confirmed today that Smyrna Police charged local party treasurer Michael Cowger Tuesday night with aggravated domestic assault and reckless endangerment charges.

 

Williams, who is running to be the party’s new chairman this Saturday, read the following statement during a phone interview:

 

“Speaking as a spokesperson for the Democratic party, Mike Williams said today that our best wishes and hopes go out to the Cowger family in this difficult time. Williams also expressed gratefulness and appreciation to the Smyrna Police Department for the efficient and compassionate way that they handled this dangerous and difficult situation. He added that, as Democrats, we believe in the dignity of all human beings and, with that in mind, we will have no further comments but will instead allow the Cowger family to work out their crisis.”

 

http://www.dnj.com/article/20130410/NEWS05/304100039/Democrats-verify-party-treasurer-faces-charges-after-standoff-police

 

 

I'm thinking this trifecta is a better story with a happier ending than the one that was wall to wall on national news where the cops shot dead the guy that held four firefighters hostage.

 

Once again, good on the Smyrna Police and the RCSO.

Edited April 11, 2013 by QuietDan

[TGO David]

"He added that, as Democrats, we believe in the dignity of all human beings and..."

 

Unless it's an unborn child.   Jerkwad politicans.

[rugerla1]

Gary is a good friend of mine, so congrats to him and to all of the officers involved.