Editor’s note: The standoff ended approximately 11 a.m. and suspect was transported to the hospital. Story developing.
MANSFIELD, Ohio — Law enforcement officials are trying to reach a peaceful resolution with a man who has been barricaded in a Randall Road home for more than 24 hours.
Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz held a press conference at 9 a.m. Tuesday near the Randall Road location where the man has held a standoff with law enforcement since Monday morning. Coontz said officials are pleading with the man to give himself up.
The man is believed to be 58-year-old David Parker of 36 Randall Rd.
Mansfield officers were dispatched at approximately 8:26 a.m. Monday morning after a Columbia Gas employee called 911 to report a man armed with a rifle came to the door after the gas employee attempted to make contact with him.
According to Columbia Gas Communications Manager Jason Copsey, the employee was not there to turn off the resident’s gas, as had been reported. Copsey said typically, for customer confidentiality, they do not discuss why they are at a residence but the company would like to clarify the reports.
“Shutting off service was not the purpose of our technician’s presence at the residence,” Copsey said. “He was doing an inspection; he was not there to shut off gas. When he arrived, he attempted to make contact, knocking on the door for about 10 minutes. When he was unsuccessful, he returned to his vehicle. At that point the door opened and a gentlemen stepped out. He had a gun and was shouting something.”
The gas employee left to a safe distance and called 911.
“At that point 911 dispatched officers. The officers arrived; we secured the location. We tried to make contact through a PA (bullhorn) to the gentleman inside,” Coontz said.
Law enforcement was unable to make contact with Parker and he refused to speak with officers. Eventually SWAT was deployed and officers heard rounds fired.
“There were 22 incidences where shootings had occurred from inside the house out toward the officers,” Coontz added, “At least two SWAT vehicles were damaged and some equipment that was shot at. The officers were shot at directly. We did return some fire.
“The best that we can tell, he is still barricaded inside the residence. We asked him to surrender at least 308 times since yesterday since this began.”
He has also been asked to stop shooting at officers and surrender himself.
Coontz thanked other agencies for their support and assistance. Those agencies include Ontario police, Shelby police, Ontario SWAT, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus SWAT, FBI, the Mansfield hostage negotiating team and local ASORT SWAT team and the Ashland County Sheriff bomb squad.
“We did receive some information from family and friends that he may be armed with a highly powered rifle, as well as possibly some explosive devices, so we’re being very cautious. It’s very difficult for officers to get anywhere near the residence at this point,” Coontz said.
The only way officers have gotten close to the residence was with an armored vehicle and the man fired on the vehicle. On one occasion, Coontzsaid, they were trying to get him out and he started shooting at SWAT officers.
“We did notice one of the rounds that the suspect was shooting did go through our ballistic shield–very disturbing because what’s going to stop the rounds he is shooting are very little. The only thing we have to protect ourselves at this point, or the people in the surrounding area, is inside that armored vehicle,” said Coontz.
Asked if officers were going to take aggressive action to end the standoff, Coontz said, “Unfortunately, in this kind of situation, he dictates what’s going on. We want a peaceful resolution. We’re begging the guy to come out.”
“We did receive some information from family and friends that he may be armed with a highly powered rifle, as well as possibly some explosive devices, so we’re being very cautious. It’s very difficult for officers to get anywhere near the residence at this point,” Chief Coontz said.
