Man with BB gun threatens officer

DECATUR, Mich. (WOOD) - A man with a BB gun threatened to shoot an officer, who fired his weapon, when the suspect disobeyed several orders.

A Decatur officer was dispatched at 12:56 a.m. Monday to a domestic assault complaint at 202 W. Bronson St.

The caller -- a 23-year-old man -- said he had a gun and "will shoot everyone," according to a news release.

Police heard screaming in the background of the phone conversation, and the caller was very uncooperative.

When the officer arrived, he saw the suspect walking near the intersection of S. Williams Street and Bronson Street. The officer got out of his vehicle and ordered the suspect to stop.

But the suspect ignored the officer and kept walking, police said. The suspect then pointed his right hand at the officer, at which time the officer saw something in the suspect's hand but couldn't determine what it was at this time. It was later revealed to be a Ruger P345 6mm BB pistol.

The officer took cover behind his car as the suspect kept walking.

The officer got into his car, called for backup and began following the suspect at a safe distance.

As the suspect approached the intersection of Bronson Street and S. Phelps Street, he took off his coat and threw it to the ground.

He then walked northbound on S. Phelps Street.

The officer placed his vehicle's spotlight on the suspect, and got out of his car to try again to talk with the suspect.

The officer ordered the suspect to stop walking and drop the object in his hand. But the suspect refused and told the officer that he had a weapon and wanted to hurt the officer, according to the news release.

The suspect then raised and swung the weapon toward the officer.

The officer continued to tell the suspect to stop and drop the weapon but the suspect ignored the commands and pointed the weapon at the officer.

The officer fired one bullet from his gun toward the suspect. The bullet missed the suspect who fell on some ice, causing him to throw his weapon toward a nearby building.

The officer approached the suspect who was on his knees. The officer tried to apprehend the suspect who resisted, and a scuffle ensued. The suspect was subdued, handcuffed and taken to the Van Buren County Jail.

Members of the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police and Lawton Police Department responded to the scene.

The case will be given to the Van Buren County Prosecutor's Office.