Kaufman County Standoff With Barricaded Man Ends
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KAUFMAN COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - A standoff involving police and sheriff's deputies in Kaufman County reached a peaceful end after more than eight hours, when the barricaded man surrendered to authorities just after 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning.
Police were called to the scene in the 1300 block of Main Street just after 11:00 p.m. on Sunday night. The 49-year-old suspect was later identified as Michael Etheridge. He had allegedly barricaded himself inside of the home and fired dozens of shots, at least one of those at a barbecue grill's propane tank.
Capt. Ed Black with the Kaufman Police Department said that gunfire was exchanged between officers and the suspect.
The first officers at the scene found a man, believed to be the suspect's son, with gunshot wounds to his arm and leg. That man was taken by air ambulance to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he was treated and released. An adult female was also at the house when the man was shot. She was taken into custody safely.
Etheridge now faces several charges including assault with a deadly weapon and assault of a public servant. Police said that he has been arrested several times before, for violent offenses. He resisted a little bit before getting into a police car.
Roads surrounding the house were cordoned off, and no teachers, staff members, parents or students were allowed at nearby Phillips Elementary School. The campus had a delayed opening. No other schools were affected by this incident. "It was scary at first," admitted parent Ashley Barina, "but I was confident that the Kaufman Police Department was keeping us safe, and I was thankful that they did delay it."
Several families living near the standoff were also evacuated from their homes as a precaution. "We were mostly just wanting everything to end peacefully, like it did," said resident Patty Patterson. "I applaud our police department and all the county officials and state officials that were here."
Police and deputies were assisted by SWAT teams from the Mesquite Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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