Agitated-armed man with gun sparks police SWAT stand-off
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. Sept 26 2018 A security officer working at a business notified police that a disorderly man and pulled a gun on him.
Deputies responded and said that the armed and agitated man sparked an hours-long standoff outside a closed business in Crystal River Sunday morning.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded to LKQ on CR 486 around midnight for the incident.
Deputies say an agitated man, later identified as 41-year-old Kevin Cupit, pulled up outside the gate to LKQ in a red truck and showed the overnight security guard a gun.
The man then refused to put down the gun or get out of his truck for hours, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman says.
A SWAT team, crisis team, FHP and Sumter County deputies all responded to the scene to help Citrus County deputies.
Law enforcement eventually used gas to force Cupit out of the truck. Deputies say he ran but was tased and is now undergoing medical evaluation. No charges have been filed at this time.
“I am so proud of the men and women who work for my agency. From our 911 communications officers, patrol deputies to our SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team members, they are all true professionals when it comes to dealing with people who are in crisis,” Sheriff Mike Prendergast said in a statement. “Thankfully, this situation ended successfully without any injuries to our team and the suspect was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.”
Part of CR 486 was temporarily shut down during the investigation due to the amount of law enforcement at the scene.
