St. Clair Shores

Suicidal man hospitalized after shooting

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

A 40-year-old man is in critical condition at St. John Hospital in Detroit after St. Clair Shores police were forced to shoot him Aug. 21.

Deputy Police Chief Glenn Bowlin said officers were called to the Falcon Crest Apartment complex on Little Mack Avenue at 10 Mile Road, around 7:15 p.m. Aug. 21 after receiving calls about a suicidal man.

“As they were arriving, as they were getting out of their patrol cars, they heard a gunshot and observed a male walk out onto the balcony of an apartment,” Bowlin said.

The man was carrying a shotgun and was told repeatedly by police to drop his weapon, but he refused.

“He then turned around and leveled the weapon at the officers,” Bowlin said.

That’s when a St. Clair Shores police officer with the force for at least 10 years fired at the man, striking him in the chest. Police don’t know if anyone was living with the man in the apartment but said no one else was hurt.

“The investigation will be ongoing for a long time,” Bowlin said.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay, which Bowlin said is normal in these situations and is “standard operating procedure in all departments … until everything gets settled and we get a chance to review everything.”

He said counseling is always available to any officer that needs or wants it and “it’s well received by the officers.” According to Bowlin, it has been at least 10 years since a St. Clair Shores Police officer had to fire shots in the line of duty.
Call Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at (586) 498-1041.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1041.