(Council Bluffs) The Council Bluffs Police Department has released more information on the standoff that occurred Friday.
At approximately 10:00 a.m. on Friday, U.S. Marshal’s Deputies and Council Bluffs Police Officers located and began surveilling 40-year-old Ryan D. Linehan, of Omaha, Nebraska, as he was operating a large construction excavator near the intersection of East Kanesville and Baughn Street. Linehan was wanted on a felony warrant issued in Sarpy County, Nebraska.
Just before 11:00 a.m., Linehan exited the excavator. Deputies and officers then began to approach Linehan to place him into custody. Upon seeing the law enforcement officers, Linehan ran back to and climbed inside the excavator. 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 nearby vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Officers had been attempting to talk to Linehan out of the excavator for nearly three hours when he produced a handgun from his coat. Officers continued their attempts to get Linehan to put down his gun and exit the equipment, but he would not agree to do either. Members of the Crisis Negotiations Team worked to get Linehan to surrender and exit the excavator. After eight hours Linehan threatened to restart the excavator, increasing the threat and risk to the officers and community. At that point, officers launched less-than-lethal beanbag and OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) rounds into the cab of the excavator with the hope that Linehan would put the gun down and surrender.
Linehan then used his handgun to shoot himself in the lower jaw. Council Bluffs Police Officers and members of the Marshal’s taskforce immediately approached Linehan to recover the firearm and assist Linehan from the cab of the excavator to allow Council Bluffs Fire Department members to render medical aid. The firearm that Linehan used to injure himself was recovered at the scene and placed into evidence. Council Bluffs Fire Department transported Linehan to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. He is currently in stable condition and is expected to recover.
Other than the beanbag and OC deployments, law enforcement officers did not fire any weapons during the standoff and apprehension. Local charges against Linehan are pending, as detectives will consult with prosecutors next week.
