Iraq veteran standoff ends without injury

    MILO—A four hour standoff between Yates County Sheriff’s deputies and a 27-year-old Milo Iraq War veteran ended with the suspect surrendering without any other incidents, Friday, Aug. 26.
    According to authorities, the sheriff’s department responded to a call at 5:25 p.m. on Second Milo Road about an armed man saying he would either harm himself or the police who had gone into the woods after him near a residence. The official report said that by two hours into the incident, one gun shot was reported. Sheriff Ron Spike added a negotiator was on the scene and the authorities were attempting to contact the man by cellphone.
    The sheriff’s department explained the residence was evacuated, a phone alert went out to other homes within a mile of the incident, and deputies set up road blocks. Spike said during the four hours, the man gave up the gun, but then confronted officers with a knife. He added the veteran eventually surrendered without anyone getting injured. Deputies were assisted by a member of the Yates Coounty Veterans’ Service Agency.
    Authorities said the man was transported to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital as a mental hygiene arrest where he was turned over for evaluation. The report said there are no other charges at this time.