Dead End Police Department Incident Report

Incident Time and Date:
1/2/12; 00:00

Incident Location:
DE Asylum

Officers Attending:
Officer Snow
Officer Baber
Officer Refenoir
Officer Courtois
Officer Carmichael
Officer Caine

Alleged Offense Committed:
Hostage situation - one of the inmates had taken a nurse hostage. Inmate was delirious and flashing back, believed himself to be in a combat zone.

Further Action:
None.

Victim:
Nurse, unknown name.

Suspect:
Alexander Avedon

Witnesses:
Officers listed as responding, unknown medical staff.

Items Stolen or Taken:
None

Weapons Used:
Officer Caine had her Taser drawn, it was not fired.

Evidence Recovered:
None

Summary of Events:
Officers Courtois, Carmichael and Caine were on the scene when Officers Snow and Refenoir arrived. Officers Coirtois and Carmichael were waiting for backup; Officer Caine was engaged in a standoff with the inmate, threatening him with a tazer. Inmate had demanded clothes and a way out of the complex.

Officer Snow gave the order to stand down and cease targeting the inmate upon realizing that the inmate believed he was in a war zone. Officer Snow then attempted to talk him down. Officer Caine did not obey the order to stand down and remained engaged with target, advancing on him and causing further danger to the hostage.

Officer Snow gave Officer Caine the order to stand down again, she ignored it and refused. Officer Snow, in effort to protect the hostage and inmate, attempted to relieve Officer Caine of her weapon. Officer Caine attacked Officer Snow (no injuries sustained) and she then left the scene. Officers Baber and Snow were able to talk the inmate into a side room and Officers Carmichael, Courtois, and Refenoir facilitated control of the scene and care for the hostage (who sustained non-life-threatening injuries).

Notes:
Officer Snow recommends the formation of special task force or response team to handle situations like this. Officers were uncertain how to handle the situation and a Vice Squad officer should not have been responding and engaging in hostile negotiations. She had no idea what she was doing and nearly got herself, and the hostage, killed.

Signature of Reporting Officer:
Officer Elizabeth Snow (0820)