Suspect to police: 'I'm coming out commando'

[bigkw]

This happened in Glynn County Georgia 9/10/09


St. Simons Island, GA -- An autopsy reveals new details from a man shot and killed Thursday afternoon after a two hour stand off with police.

In a news conference, Chief Matt Doering said that the autopsy revealed a gunshot fired by one of his officers is what lead to the death of Martin Reagin. Doering stated that Reagin repeatedly threatened officers and waved his high powered rifle at them. At one point Reagin appeared on his front porch with the rifle and declared that he would kill them.

The incident began around 3 p.m. on Thursday when an officer patroling the area stopped to ask Reagin to remove an illegal sign in his yard. He became agitated and confrontational.

Gary Hale was doing work on a house next door when he heard Reagin yelling.

"He told the guy to get out of his yard, his so and so yard, and leave him alone," he said.

A SWAT officer arrived at the scene to assist and was threatened with his life. At that point, the officer called for additional backup and the suspect locked himself inside of his home.

"He got upset and started threatening them and it just escalated," said Hale.

When other officers arrived, there was correspondence via telephone with Reagin asking him to come outside of his home. During the news conference, Doering read several statements from those phone conversations. He told police, "I see officers in my scope," "Hunker down in 30 seconds," "I'll shoot them in the neck where they have no protection," "In 3 minutes I'm coming out blasting." At one point he told police he was going to change into camoflauge. When the incident started he was wearing a red t-shirt and when he was found inside the home, he was wearing camoflauge.

Just before 5 o'clock Reagin came out of the home and was tased by officers. He got up slowly and ran to the side of the house where he was then shot three times by an officer. He got up again and ran into the the home. Not knowing if Reagin was still alive, police shot tear gas into the home. When they entered they found his body on his bed next to a shot gun and a butcher knife.

"This guy gave them no alternative. Police were so patient, begged him to come out, begged him to call them, tried to establish communication with this guy and he would not do it," said Hale.

Police retrieved one high powered rifle, two semi automatic shotguns, two double barrel shotguns, a butcher knife and bullets.

Reagin was arrested in 2007 for DUI and eluding police.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[ccw9mm]

The autopsy revealed all of that? Wow.

Sounds like fairly effective case of suicide by cop. Not very nice to do that to otherwise upstanding officers, who will now have to live with the after-effects. Not nice.

[mojust]

My guess is alcohol was involved.

[PastorPack]

OK, I want to know that the "Illegal sign" said.

[bps3040]

OK, I want to know that the "Illegal sign" said.

Yep. Curious

[RMS]

"Here's your sign" now has a new meaing.

[Janq]

My guess is alcohol was involved.

My guess is that mental issues/crazy were involved, as the basis and catalyst.

- Janq

[hogdaddy]

All over a sing and a $35 fine

[Lt Big C]

sounds like he got what he was looking for

[bigkw]

Neighbors who witnessed the situation said they could hear the threats.

"The man started threatening the police and saying, 'I'm going to die, so three of you are going to die first,'" said John Waldo, who was next door when the shooting happened.

Police said several weapons were found in the home.

[shooterX]

My guess is that mental issues/crazy were involved, as the basis and catalyst.

- Janq

My thoughts exactly.

[Loadedtech]

He really wasn't all there-was he? Over a stupid sign in his yard? What is wrong with people today.

[Bark'n]

All over a sign and a $35 fine

I don't know if he'd of gotten a $35 fine if he had just complied with the request and removed the sign.

If he had an issue with it, he could have taken the issue up at city hall at a later time.

[paramedic70002]

That must have been some important sign.

[paramedic70002]

Well if this is true, very disturbing. The original "officer" was not an LEO, he was Codes Enforcement (at least around my parts, codes people aren't LEOs). From another article:

Neighbors and witnesses working nearby said the incident started after a Glynn County code enforcement officer came to the house over illegal signs.

Building contractor John Waldo said he was working two doors down from the Ocean Boulevard house when he heard shouting.

"I heard him yelling at the code enforcement officer, 'Get your ___ hands off me. Get out of my yard,' '' Waldo said of the altercation.

After a police arrived, the man told them to leave his yard and said, "If I'm going to die, three of you are going to die, too,'' Waldo said.

Gary Hale, who was working with Waldo, said the man retreated into his house but came out three or four times to yell at police.

After police tried to talk with him, the man came out with what appeared to be a pistol held down by his leg, Hale said.

Hale said he did not see the man point the gun.

Neighbors said the house often had signs advertising businesses, which Glynn County does not allow in residential neighborhoods.

The code enforcement officer was removing the signs when the resident came outside and confronted him, said Bobby Morris, who had been working on a nearby condominium.