A Lexington man is in custody and two officers are nursing minor injuries following a Tuesday night incident in Sanilac County.
Lexington Police received a report shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, with the caller reporting that their neighbor was outside screaming and shooting what appeared to be a long gun in city limits. Police, along with Sanilac County Sheriff deputies, arrived at the scene in the 7100 block of Lexington’s Lester Street and attempted to contact the man the caller referred them to.
However, when the officers attempted to talk with the man, the 38-year-old instead fired at the officers with a CO2 BB pistol, striking a Lexington officer in the arm.
Officers then set up a perimeter, with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team contacted for assistance. As officers set up the perimeter and contacted the neighboring county’s agency, the man continued to fire at the officers and their vehicles with the CO2 BB pistol and a second pellet rifle. Officers could also see that he had several knives on his person.
When St. Clair County’s Special Response Team responded to the scene, they made entry into the man’s home after unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the suspect and have him surrender. During the first entry attempt, the man fired the pellet gun at the officers, striking one deputy in the leg and causing a retreat of the special response team. They later deployed tear gas, and another entry attempt was made, with the suspect taken into custody without incident at that point.
Both the Lexington Police officer and the St. Clair County deputy shot during the incident received very minor injuries, with two patrol vehicles also being damaged from several rounds fired by the suspect. Following the four-hour standoff, a search warrant was executed at the home and multiple weapons were removed from the home.
The 38-year-old Lexington man is currently lodged at the Sanilac County Jail pending multiple felony charges, with his name remaining unreleased, pending his arraignment.
The Lexington Police Department was also assisted on scene by the Croswell Police Department, Michigan State Police Caro Post and Croswell EMS.
