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WASHINGTON CITY — A man was arrested Tuesday after a standoff with Washington County Metro SWAT at an apartment complex, officials said.
At around 2:39 p.m. Tuesday, officers received reports of a man driving erratically and pointing a gun at bystanders near 20 North Red Trail Lane, Washington County's Investigation Bureau Chief Barry Golding said in a Wednesday news release. Police located the man near Washington Parkway and Telegraph Street and attempted to stop him. The man then fled at a high-speed and officers decided not to engage in a high-speed pursuit, Golding said.
The man was later located again, and he then fled on foot. According to the release, the man fled into an apartment at 20 North Red Trail Lane and barricaded himself in his apartment. Police were then able to identify the man as 33-year-old Augustus James Cole.
Residents in the apartment and people in the surrounding area were evacuated as Washington County Metro SWAT responded to the scene, according to the release.
Officers reported seeing Cole holding a number of firearms as well as placing a sign on his window telling officers he had a .45-caliber firearm and 12-gauge shotgun, the release says. Cole spoke with negotiators multiple times while being barricaded and told them that he would shoot anyone who attempted to come inside, Golding said. Cole also refused to surrender into custody.
Police reported that around 9:20 p.m., Cole pointed a shotgun toward officers and a SWAT officer fired one round, hitting Cole in the abdomen. Cole continued to barricade himself in his apartment after being shot. SWAT used tear gas and an explosive to open the front door, according to the release.
Around 11:52 p.m. Cole surrendered into police custody and was transported to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. According to Golding, following his release from the hospital, Cole was booked into the Washington County Jail. Cole faces multiple charges including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a restricted person, and drug possession.
Washington County Critical Incident Taskforce will be conducting an investigation into whether the force officers used was justified, according to Golding.
