[ad_1]
A Polk County man is facing multiple charges after a standoff with deputies Tuesday evening.
Around 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, deputies responded to a domestic dispute call involving a man and woman on Landrum Road in Columbus, North Carolina. At her request, deputies said they met with the woman away from the home first and saw signs of physical assault.
When they arrived at the home, deputies said William James Westbrook, 67, was armed with an AR-15 style rifle, which he aimed at authorities when asked to drop the weapon.
Deputies fired shots in self-defense, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said, which caused Westbrook to retreat into the home.
Westbrook eventually exited the home after negotiations, but then assaulted a deputy, officials said.
An inspection of the rifle, the sheriff’s office said, showed Westbrook attempted to fire the rifle at deputies, but it jammed and didn’t go off.
“I am grateful to report that no one was hurt in the incident,” Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright said in a statement.
Westbrook is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault on law enforcement officer with a firearm, two counts of resisting a public officer, and one count each of assault on a female, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, communicating threats and assault of a government official.
As is standard procedure, officials said the deputies involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave. The sheriff’s office also said it requested an investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, but was denied “due to absence of injuries from the gunfire.”
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
Source link