Law enforcement officers pull the suspect out of an excavator after he was shot following a daylong stand-off with Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday. The man was wanted on a felony warrant out of Sarpy County (Nebraska) for first-degree sexual assault. When police officers and deputy marshals reportedly tried to serve the warrant just before noon Friday, the man locked himself inside the excavator on the site.
Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals surround the suspect during stand-off at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. The man was wanted on a felony warrant out of Sarpy County (Nebraska) for first-degree sexual assault. When police officers and deputy marshals reportedly tried to serve the warrant just before noon Friday, the man locked himself inside the excavator on the site.
Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals surround the suspect during stand-off at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday. The man was wanted on a felony warrant out of Sarpy County (Nebraska) for first-degree sexual assault. When police officers and deputy marshals reportedly tried to serve the warrant just before noon Friday, the man locked himself inside the excavator on the site.
Paramedics load the suspect into an ambulance after he was shot following a daylong stand-off with Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday. The man was wanted on a felony warrant out of Sarpy County (Nebraska) for first-degree sexual assault. When police officers and deputy marshals reportedly tried to serve the warrant just before noon Friday, the man locked himself inside an excavator on the site.
A law enforcement officer carries a rifle around the scene as Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals engage in a stand-off with Ryan D. Linehan, 40, of Omaha at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.
Law enforcement officers watch the scene as Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals engage in a stand-off with Ryan D. Linehan, 40, of Omaha at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.
Law enforcement officers watch the scene as Council Bluffs Police and U.S. Marshals engage in a stand-off with Ryan D. Linehan, 40, of Omaha at the demolition site of the old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.
Council Bluffs Police have released more information about a stand-off that took place Friday between officers an armed man who was sought on a felony warrant out of Nebraska.
At 10 a.m. Friday, U.S. Marshal’s deputies and Council Bluffs Police officers located and began watching Ryan D. Linehan, 40, of Omaha, as he was operating a construction excavator at the old St. Patrick’s Church demolition site, near the intersection of East Kanesville Boulevard and Baughn Street. Linehan was wanted on a felony warrant for sexual assault out of Sarpy County (Nebraska).
Just before 11 a.m., Council Bluffs Police said Linehan exited the excavator and deputies and officers began to approach him to take him into custody. Upon seeing the law enforcement officers, Linehan ran back and climbed inside the excavator. Police said Linehan initially swung the equipment’s bucket in the direction of the approaching deputies and officers to keep them from getting to him. Additional officers arrived to shut down traffic in the surrounding area.
Officer attempted to talk Linehan out of the excavator for almost three hours when he reportedly produced a handgun from his coat, police said. Officers and members of the Council Bluffs Police Crisis Negotiations Team continued their attempts to get Linehan to put down the gun and exit the excavator, but were unsuccessful. After eight hours, Linehan allegedly threatened to restart the excavator — increasing the potential threat risk to the officers and community.
Police said officer launched less-than-lethal beanbags and pepper spray rounds into the excavator’s cab with the hope that Linehan would put down his weapon and surrender. No law enforcement officers did not fire any additional weapons during the stand-off or apprehension.
Linehan then used his handgun to shoot himself in the lower jaw. Officers and deputies immediately approached Linehan to recover the firearm and help him out of the excavator so Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue members could administer aid. Linehan’s gun was recovered at the scene and placed into evidence.
Linehan was taken to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for treatment of his injuries. Police said he is in stable condition and is expected to recover. Additional local charges against Linehan are pending as investigators consults with prosecutors.
