Confrontation between man, police ends peacefully

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

HICKORY - An early-morning standoff between Catawba County officers and a man armed with at least four guns ended peacefully Wednesday after more than two hours of negotiations, authorities said.

Officers from the Catawba County's STAR team -- the county's version of a SWAT team -- responded to a call on 33rd Street N.E. in Hickory shortly after midnight, said Maj. Coy Reid at the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.

The man, whom authorities did not name, was threatening family members and said he would allow police to kill him, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office. He had four weapons with him, including two rifles, a shotgun and a pellet gun, authorities said.

After about 2 1/2 hours, negotiators convinced the man to come out of the home and turn himself over to authorities.

Christopher Dale Atkins, 23, was served with mental health commitment papers and was at Catawba Valley Medical Center on Wednesday night, said Reid.


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