Non-lethal force ends hostage standoff - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

The sheriff and chief deputy of Webster Parish say they were prepared to use deadly force, if they absolutely had to, to end a hostage standoff involving one of their deputies.  But in the dark of night they came up with a plan:  To use non-lethal "bean bag rounds" first.  The operation involved five shotguns, at different angles, and it worked.

Three Webster Parish deputies arrived at the house along Highway 371 in Heflin, Louisiana, armed with warrants against 38-year old Chad Oliver, after a tip came in that he was visiting a friend's house.  And at about 11-o'clock Thursday (8/16/12) night, that friend opened the door.  Sheriff Gary Sexton said, "They (deputies) were invited inside the house.  Matter of fact, the individual told us that, 'Yes, he's (Oliver) here.  Ya'll come on in the house."

But only one deputy made it inside before spotting Oliver in the living room.  Chief Deputy Bobby Igo explained, "The gun was pulled on him (deputy).  He was able to tell the other deputies, 'Stay where you're at.'"

Authorities on the scene say they asked Oliver if the deputy could leave the room.  "And he basically responded in a fashion that he could.  But, somebody would have to take his place," continued Sheriff Sexton.

That began a nervous three hour long hostage standoff with a deputy stuck in the room with Oliver and three different negotiators trying to convince him to put down his 32-caliber revolver, which he almost began to do.  "Then, he completely changed his mind.  And when I asked him the second time about putting his weapon down to talk to some of his (family) members he said, 'No, he was through,'" said Chief Deputy Igo.

In fact, Igo was that third negotiator and said he knew time was running out after one exchange with Oliver, still holding that revolver.  "He (Oliver) turned it to his head like this right here, actually bringing the gun away from his head and looked at me and said, 'You better move,'" added Igo.

That led to a brief meeting outside the house, where Sheriff Sexton, Chief Deputy Igo and other deputies formed a plan to use five shotguns, at different angles, at coordinated times, to end the standoff.

Then Chief Igo went back inside and faced Oliver.  Igo recalled, "The signal we got was a light that I shined in his eyes and blinded him to the fact, just long enough to disorient him enough that the two bean bags come in from one direction."

One of those bean bag rounds hit Oliver in the back of the head, forcing him forward and to the ground.  "He come up with a gun in his hand then another round was fired which took his capacity away from him from using the gun," said Sheriff Sexton.

The sheriff himself fired that all important shot, disarming Oliver before two more rounds kept him on the ground as officers dog piled on top of him, ending the standoff.  Sexton concluded, "To be honest with you, I'm proud to say that it worked textbook."

Those warrants against Oliver included charges of child molestation from the town off Arcadia and delinquent child support payments in Webster Parish.  Now, Oliver is out of the hospital for an injury to his arm, and locked-up, facing a host of new criminal charges.  Sheriff Sexton said that includes aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting an officer and also false imprisonment.

Copyright KSLA-TV 2012.  All rights reserved.