By Tom Groening
The Bangor Daily News
JACKSON, Me. - A standoff Tuesday night involving a man who wanted to kill police officers or be killed by them ended peacefully.
The Waldo County Sheriff’s Department reported that a man, later identified as Clyde Clark, 38, of Jackson, began calling the county dispatch service at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, taunting law enforcement officials.
Clark challenged police to come to his house to try to kill him, and he promised to kill officers if they did, Chief Deputy Bob Keating reported. Clark also asked what officers would do to him if he hurt someone in his house, Keating said.
Dispatchers received three calls from Clark before they were able to ascertain who he was, he said. Clark was calling from his residence on Valley Road.
Clark’s sister and a niece went to the house before police were able to identify the source of the calls, but left before officers arrived, Keating said. Clark’s father was in the house for the duration of the standoff.
Officers with the Sheriff’s Department were assisted by the Maine State Police Tactical Team, which arrived at the residence at about 9:30 p.m. Chris Dyer of the Maine Warden Service also assisted.
Using a bullhorn to communicate with him, officers tried to persuade Clark to surrender, but it wasn’t until after 3 a.m. that the man left the house to be taken into police custody.
Clark allowed his father to leave the residence about 90 minutes before he surrendered, Keating said.
Clark was charged with terrorizing and violation of probation. He will not be released on bail because of the alleged probation violation.
Keating said Clark was arrested on March 23 and charged with assault and domestic violence.
No weapons were found in the house after the arrest, but Keating said Clark had told officers he had firearms.
“At this point, we don’t know what provoked it,” he said.
The incident remains under investigation with the possibility of other charges being added.
Keating said law enforcement officers were relieved the incident concluded without anyone being hurt.
Copyright 2007 Bangor Daily News