Police arrest man after brief standoff

KELLOGG –– A standoff between a local man and multiple Shoshone County law enforcement agencies end with the man being taken into police custody late Saturday night.

Just before 11 p.m., Kellogg Police responded to a call on W. Riverside Avenue after receiving reports of an intoxicated and armed man making threats outside of a residence, as well as being in violation of a protection order. 

Upon arrival, KPD officer William Eddy witnessed Tyler R. Harris, 35, standing outside of a home that he had previously shared with his girlfriend.

According to the probable cause affidavit, due to the report of Harris being armed, Eddy immediately drew his firearm and gave Harris commands to show his hands. 

Harris allegedly responded to these commands by repeatedly asking Eddy to shoot him – during this interaction, officers from the Osburn Police Department and the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the residence to assist. 

Harris told the officers that he had a pistol in his waistband and a rifle in his backpack and was going to fire on them. Harris then decided to open his backpack, where he brandished a knife and proceeded to charge at a pair of officers. The officers deployed their tasers but were unsuccessful due to the heavy winter clothing that Harris was wearing. After a brief scuffle, the officers were able to safely get Harris on the ground, where he continued to resist arrest and reach for his waistband until Eddy threatened to use a lateral vascular neck restraint, which would render him unconscious, it was at this point that Harris complied. 

After getting him restrained, a search of Harris’s person and backpack yielded no other weapons than the knife that he had attempted to use. 

According to the PCA, Harris arrived at the residence where he began screaming outside, pounding on the front door, and claiming that he had a gun.  The victim, Harris’s former girlfriend, was inside the home with her two children and a friend, who corroborated her story. 

On January 17, Harris was served a no-contact protection order between him and the victim, as well as their one shared child and another minor child living at the residence. The order required that Harris move from the W. Riverside home, and maintain 1,500 feet of distance between himself and the petitioners. Law enforcement was also told to seize all of the firearms in the residence, due to alleged threats made by Harris. 

During the scuffle, one officer received an injury to their knee, but otherwise, KPD Chief Paul Twidt was happy that the situation ended the way that it did. 

“The officers on scene did an excellent job,” Twidt told the News-Press. “It showed how well all the county agencies work together. The situation could have been much worse, but due to the training and being able to work together as one team made a huge difference. Overall the outcome was the best it could have been with the exception of one officer being injured.” 

Harris had his first appearance in court on Monday, where he was charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and violating a civil protection order.

Magistrate Judge Keisha Oxendine set Harris’ bail at $100,000 – his next court appearance is schedule for February 1.