APD releases details of SWAT team standoff

Yesterday, a short video made the rounds of an Asheville Police Department SWAT team firing into an apartment and advancing. Now the APD has released details of the standoff with Erich Shakir, who police claim barricaded himself inside a North Asheville apartment filled with “a large arsenal of knives, compound bows, dart guns, and battle axes” after fleeing a domestic violence charge. According to the APD’s statement, Shakir was subdued using non-lethal methods, including tear gas and a bean-bag round.

Late yesterday afternoon, the following video, from Asheville resident Sean David Robinson, emerged.

Later that evening, APD Lt. Wally Welch told Xpress that “This was APD SWAT firing CS [gas] rounds into a residence of a baracaded [sic] suspect.”

Today, the APD released a statement detailing the whole incident:

ASHEVILLE – On Wednesday, 08-10-11 at approx. 0845 hours, officers with the Asheville Police Department responded to 165 Coleman Ave apt 2D in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon the first officer’s arrival, the victim, Bonnie Massinople, W/F, 04-21-82, yelled from the upstairs window that the suspect, Erich Shakir, would not allow her to answer the door.  While the officer was knocking on the front door, Mr. Shakir fled out the back door, across the complex, and into the woods.  Arriving officers canvassed the area in an attempt to locate the suspect without success. 

The victim stated to officers that the suspect had not slept in three days and was possibly on illegal narcotics. Victim was then transported to the Criminal Investigations offices for a follow-up interview.  During the course of the interview the victim described being assaulted by the suspect and that the suspect had refused to allow her to leave the apartment.  She also mentioned that the suspect was fascinated by knives and had a large inventory of them throughout the residence, as well as booby traps, and trip wires. She described that in his current state that he was clearly a danger to himself and possibly a danger to anyone else he may have contact with.
 
At 1208hrs, officers respond back to this address after a phone call from management advising that the suspect had returned to the apartment and gained entry through a window. Officers arrived on scene, established a perimeter, and attempted to contact the suspect by phone as well as verbal commands, which were unsuccessful. Officers on scene were advised additional warrants were being issued for Domestic Violence (Assault on Female) and other charges. SWAT officers were then called to the scene to assist, along with the Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Bomb Squad.  Criminal Investigations assisted with obtaining a search warrant for the residence. 

During the planning stage of the operation, the suspect was seen inside the apartment waving what appeared to be a large sword. After numerous attempts to contact the suspect by phone and verbally, SWAT officers deployed CS Gas canisters into the upstairs area of the apartment.  Within minutes, the suspect opened the front door for some relief, observed the SWAT operators waiting for him, and attempted to step back inside while reaching for another sword-like weapon. At this point, SWAT deployed one impact munition (bean bag round) at the suspect striking him in the right upper thigh.  The suspect almost immediately went to the ground, became compliant, and was arrested without further incident. 
 
The suspect was cleared medically by Fire and EMS on the scene for the CS exposure, and then transported to the Buncombe County Detention Facility for charging.
 
The ROBOT from the Bomb team was utilized to search the apartment for contraband, booby traps, trip wires and explosives. No explosives were recovered however a large arsenal of knives, compound bows, dart guns, and battle axes were recovered.

Mr. Shakir was charged with:

Assault on Female
Communicating Threats x 2
Damage to Property
False Imprisonment

He is currently still being held under no bond until seen by a District Judge.