|
|
 |
Jeremy Gaston/Herald-Chronicle
From staff reports
OSAGE CITY—Dozens of law enforcement officials gathered near
an Osage City home Tuesday morning, after a male occupant called
police saying he wanted to speak with an officer. Hours later, the
apparent standoff ended after the man exited his house and was taken
into custody without incident.
According to a press release issued Tuesday evening by the Osage
City Police Department, officials believed the man, identified by
neighbors as John Esposito, was suicidal.
According to law enforcement officials, the Osage City Police Department
received a call from the subject at about 6:10 a.m. Osage County
Sheriff Laurie Dunn said there was reason to believe the man, who
was in his home at 1417 E Street, could harm himself or others.
Dunn said the man was armed, and events of a domestic nature had
happened during the weekend at the residence.
Osage City Police Chief Fred Nech said in the press release that
officers from the police department, sheriff’s office, Kansas
Highway Patrol, and Kansas Bureau of Investigation assembled to
form a perimeter around the residence. A KHP helicopter flew over
the scene during the incident. In all, more than 25 emergency units
responded.
Several residents within about a one-block radius of the home in
northeast Osage City were contacted by police officers and city
employees and told they should go to their basements or leave the
area until further notice. Nech said the neighbors were evacuated
to ensure their safety. An ambulance and fire truck were on standby
throughout the morning.
When asked mid-morning why additional units had been called in,
Dunn said, “I don’t have negotiators with my department.
Phone contact was made with the subject by the KBI negotiation team.”
After the KBI crisis negotiators and Osage City police officers
made contact with the man, the situation was peacefully resolved,
Nech said in the release.
The man was taken into custody without incident around 11:15 a.m.
and transported to Newman Hospital in Emporia for evaluation.
Dunn said she was unaware of any charges that would be filed against
him as a result of the incident. There were no other people in the
home throughout the duration of the incident.
According to Osage County District Court records, Marlene Esposito
filed for divorce from John Esposito around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. |
|
|
|
