A nearly 5-hour standoff Tuesday afternoon ended with a person being taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the Owensboro Police Department.
According to officials, OPD executed multiple search and arrest warrants throughout the city on Tuesday as part of an ongoing joint investigation with the DEA and IRS.
Just before noon, they attempted to execute an arrest warrant at a residence at the intersection of Farmview Drive and Todd Court. The location is in a neighborhood just off Southtown Boulevard near Burns Elementary and Middle schools; officials noted OPD coordinated with the schools to ensure staff and children were never in danger.
Officials said law enforcement became involved in a standoff with one individual who barricaded himself inside a small camper in the driveway at the location.
Speaking at a press conference following the incident, OPD Major M. Staples said contact was made “pretty quickly” after law enforcement was on scene and they began speaking with the suspect.
“We were involved in negotiations with the individual for about 5 hours,” Staples said. “During that time there were multiple times that he appeared that he was going to give up. We came to the door and we maintained a good dialogue with him throughout this time. Unfortunately, the incident concluded when he was taken to the hospital with a self-inflicted wound.”
An Owensboro Times reporter on scene heard the weapon discharge, then observed law enforcement immediately enter the camper. Staples said no officer discharged their weapon.
AMR staff was on scene throughout the incident. They were able to drive the ambulance near the camper and start tending to the suspect within a few moments, and they headed to the hospital within a couple of minutes.
Staples said he did not know the status of the subject beyond saying he had life-threatening injuries.
Staples said the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide any other details, including the nature of the warrants. He said more information is expected to be released next week.
