URBANA — An Urbana man is in custody after threatening to harm himself and law enforcement Thursday morning, July 31, at his 131 ½ E. Reynolds St., residence in Urbana.
Urbana police report they responded to the residence about 8:31 a. on a report of a man armed with a handgun threatening to commit suicide or to shoot law enforcement when they responded to investigate.
The man had reportedly been in an argument with his girlfriend before officers arrived.
Officers shut the area down surrounding the home. As they approached the home to make contact, officers encountered the man, 25-year-old Zaine Deal, standing in the yard near the home.
Officers ordered Deal to surrender but he instead ran to the back of the home and out of sight.
A gunshot was heard fired at the rear of the home by Deal, who then came back into view of officers, holding his hands up and stating it was an unintentional shot. Officers ordered the suspect to the ground at gunpoint and handcuffed him.
Police transported Deal to the Urbana Police Division for processing. He was charged with misdemeanor offences of assault, domestic violence, inducing panic, possession of drugs and disorderly conduct.
Officers performed a security sweep of the residence to make sure no one had been injured by the bullet that was fired. They spoke with Deal’s girlfriend and found her to be safe and uninjured.
A 9mm handgun used by Deal and a shell casing from the bullet that had been fired lying on the ground near where he had surrendered, were recovered at the scene.
Records show Deal had outstanding arrest warrants for a Champaign County probation violation and for a failure to appear violation on a case out of Ottawa County.
The suspect was lodged in the Tri-County Jail. His initial court appearance is Friday morning in Champaign County Municipal Court.