Update: Two people are facing charges following the incident. Full story here.
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A newly listed Airbnb on Bittel Road became the center of a standoff Monday after the property owner’s first guest barricaded themselves inside during an Owensboro Police Department investigation.
Watch a live stream of the incident here.
Police, including members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), were executing a search warrant at the home in the 2400 block of Bittel Road when the primary subject of interest initially refused to answer the door, according to OPD Public Information Officer Mark Hammond. Three individuals eventually exited the residence, including the person of interest, who was taken into custody without incident.
“We had three individuals that we were able to call out of the residence,” Hammond said. “The individual that the detectives for the Owensboro Police Department were looking for was inside the residence, and we’re glad to announce that he came out peacefully.”
The other two individuals are being treated as witnesses, and no weapons were discharged during the standoff, Hammond said, adding there was no indication that anyone inside the home was being held against their will.
The property is owned by RC Coffman, a former firefighter and current medical device sales representative. He was out of town when the standoff unfolded.
Coffman had listed the property as an Airbnb, naming it “Gallery House” due to its showcase of local artwork and custom furniture. The guest involved in the standoff was the first to stay at the home.
“This is my first house that I ever had, and I decided to turn it into an Airbnb with the theme of Gallery House,” Coffman said during an interview after the scene was cleared. “The whole house is filled with local artist artwork – there’s woodworking and custom furniture. This was literally my first guest to stay here.”
Coffman said the situation escalated suddenly while he was at work in Ohio County.
“I thought everything was going smoothly until I got a phone call saying (the police) were going to be executing a search warrant,” Coffman said. “Then, a little bit later, I got a call saying (the people inside) had barricaded themselves in the house and that it was a standoff.”
Once the scene was clear, Coffman was able to walk into the house, which he said was in disarray.
“It’s pretty bad in there,” Coffman said. “It looked like a college party had gone bad – soda thrown all over the couches, ashes everywhere. Everything in there was brand new; even the floors had been waxed and redone, and now it’s just trashed.”
Coffman said the guest originally booked for two days but extended their stay.
“It was supposed to be one guest, and then she had a guest with her, according to the booking,” Coffman said. “It sounds like there were a few more than that (who were staying inside).”
Coffman said the person who made the booking was a female, but according to police the suspect in the initial investigation is a male.
Coffman expressed disappointment over the ordeal, which he said overshadowed his vision for the property as a celebration of Owensboro’s local art scene.
“Now it’s kind of having this harsh light thrown on me,” Coffman said.
Despite the damage and the negative attention, Coffman remains undeterred. He is working with Airbnb to resolve cancellations and clean up the property for future guests.
“This doesn’t scare me off,” Coffman said. “Bad things happen every once in a while, and you just have to dig your way through them. It’s still a beautiful house, and I hope people will come and check it out.”
The Owensboro Police Department’s investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
