Butler man charged after alleged standoff with police
A Butler man was charged after a reported welfare check led to a standoff with police in Clay Township.
A 46-year-old man was charged with one misdemeanor count each of reckless endangerment and trespassing following the incident Friday, May 16.
Police said they were dispatched for a welfare check at the residence of the man’s wife after neighbors saw the man enter the home with a small black bag. According to police, a court order prohibited the man from entering the residence.
The neighbors then contacted the man’s wife, and she fled to the neighbor’s home. Police said they spoke with his wife there, who showed them footage of the man inside the home with access to firearms.
Police said they attempted to communicate with the man through a public address system to no success, so they contacted him by telephone. Police said the man answered the phone but refused to come out before hanging up.
The man soon exited the residence with a black handgun and reportedly shot himself once in the head before returning inside the residence and shooting two more rounds, police said.
Police said they could not see in the residence to check the man’s condition at the time and calls to the man received no response.