GREENFIELD — A California man could face criminal charges after he fired several gunshots into the air near a local campground Sunday, leading to the county’s SWAT team called, officials said.
SWAT officers surrounded the KOA campground, 5896 W. County Road 200N, Sunday just after 5 p.m. when a man, who had previously made suicidal comments, was seen walking around his camper with a rifle and occasionally firing a round into the air or at the ground, officials said.
When the man refused to cooperate with police negotiators’ requests to put down his firearm, officers shot foam bullets toward him, investigators said. He eventually surrendered and was taken to an Indianapolis hospital for a psychological evaluation, officials said.
Police were originally called to the KOA campground at 2 a.m. Sunday after the man’s family called 911 expressing concern about comments he’d made threatening to harm himself, dispatch records show.
The man appeared to be fine at that time, officers reported; but local 911 dispatchers continued to receive calls throughout the day Sunday with family members seeking help because of continued suicidal comments, dispatch records show.
Eventually, after shots were heard coming from near the man’s camper at the campground, the local SWAT team was called to assist, officials said. Roadways near the campground, including county roads 600N and 200W, were blocked as a precaution.
Officers could see the man walking in circles around his camper while holding a gun. At least twice, the man fired the gun at the ground or into the air.
Three foam bullets, which police refer to as less-lethal rounds, were fired at the man. He was hit with two rounds before he surrendered his gun and was taken to Community North Hospital in Indianapolis, dispatch records show.
Investigators said they plan to meet with prosecutors in the coming days to decide whether the man will be charged criminally.