December 24, 2004
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G.I. man kills himself in standoff
The incident began about 5 p.m. when members of the Police Department attempted to serve a federal arrest warrant on Paul E. Smidt Jr. for being a felon in possession of a shotgun. The officers contacted Smidt at his business, Smidt Lawn Care.Smidt refused to allow officers to enter the building and barricaded himself inside the business. Negotiations continued until after midnight, when the SWAT team entered the business.
Patrol Capt. Fred Ruiz said Smidt, who was armed with a chain saw, fled to a back bathroom and barricaded himself inside. The SWAT team was able to enter the bathroom, and when Smidt refused orders to drop the chain saw, a non-lethal beanbag round was fired at him.
According to the patrol's press release, Smidt "then lowered himself over the chain saw, taking his own life." Ruiz said Smidt's neck came into contact with the chain saw.
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