ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
City police officers talked a man out of killing himself Wednesday night during a 2 1/2-hour standoff in which the man held a small-caliber pistol against his head.
Capt. Gary Harmon would not release the name of the 34-year-old man, who is in a Galax hospital.
The man's mother, who lives apart from her son, called 911 about 8 p.m. to report the emergency. Officers responded to the call at the man's apartment in the 200 block of First Street.
The man was home alone at the time, Harmon said.
When officers arrived, they could see through a window that he was holding a gun to his head. Harmon said officers coaxed the man outside several times and talked with him.
Officers discovered the man had been drinking and was intoxicated. Eight officers as well as several Radford Fire and Rescue members worked the call, Harmon said.
About 10:30 p.m. the man dropped his pistol on the porch and surrendered to authorities.
"Our people used incredible restraint," Harmon said. "We would have done what we were doing for 10 or 12 hours if that was what it would have taken."
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB