On 5-25-2015, at about 3:15 PM, Texas DPS Rangers requested that the Special Weapons and Tactics Team from the Amarillo PD be sent to Dimmitt, Texas, where officers were attempting to arrest a suspect shooting from a home in the 200 block of Andrews. The DPS reported that one officer was pinned down by the gunfire, and that the suspect was firing at them repeatedly. APD officers including SWAT, Negotiators, and the Bomb Team and robot were sent to assist. Officers from other agencies were positioned around the house and there was sporadic gunfire from the suspect inside. APD SWAT officers first used the Department’s armored vehicle as a shield, positioning it to allow DPS and Dimmitt officers near the home to move back to a safer position. One Dimmitt PD officer was still in front of the home, pinned behind a marked vehicle that had been struck several times by shots fired from inside the home. The suspect’s gunfire had forced the officer to keep her position for about two hours. The SWAT officers drove the armored vehicle between the suspect and the patrol vehicle, providing a barrier that allowed her to get into the armored vehicle and move to safety. She was not injured in the shooting. Officers used chemical agents and negotiators tried to contact the suspect in their attempt to resolve the situation. At some point during the incident, the suspect sustained a minor injury. At around 7:30 PM, the home started burning. The suspect stepped out of the home and was taken into custody. He was treated and later booked into jail. The case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers.
On 6-22-15, APD Chief Robert Taylor and officers that had responded to the emergency attended a meeting of the Dimmitt City Council. There, Mayor Roger Malone and Dimmitt Chief Santos Perez presented a certificate of appreciation to the Amarillo Police Department.
Chief Perez said that in addition to the Amarillo Police Department, many other agencies and people helped to resolve this dangerous situation, and they wished to express appreciation to all the agencies and people that provided assistance.
PRESENTATION PHOTO: APD Personnel, L to R: Lt. Terry Lichtie, Corporals Keith Cargo, Paul Pacheco, Toby Hudson, Gary Hamilton, Brian Ainsworth, Ptlm. Doug Herrington, Sgt. Kyle Hawley, Chief Robert Taylor, and Dimmitt Mayor Malone.
