FARMINGTON -- A Farmington man died Friday following a stand-off and an officer-involved shooting outside his home at 133 Neal Street.
Randy Blecher, 50, was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release from Arkansas State Police.
The state police will investigate the use of deadly force by three Washington County deputies involved in the shooting. At the request of Sheriff Tim Helder, special agents with State Police Criminal Investigative Division have been assigned to the case, the news release stated.
The deputies involved are Lt. Joshua McConnell and Cpl. Brian Comstock, according to Kelly Cantrell, sheriff's spokeswoman. She said both have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, per department policy.
The other officer, Cpl. William Sweeney III, also works part-time for Goshen Police Department (formerly city marshal's office). Sweeney responded to the scene in that capacity, Cantrell said.
Monday, Goshen Police Chief David Edwards said Sweeney had been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the state police investigation and an internal investigation to make sure he followed departmental policies.
Farmington Fire Department and police officers responded to a structure fire about 5:05 p.m. Friday. A 911 caller reported a man had poured lighter fluid on a shed, yard and house and the shed was on fire.
When officers arrived, they encountered a man holding a pistol and a rifle, according to Capt. Michael Thompson with Farmington Police Department. The man, now identified as Blecher, fired toward the officers. Thompson said officers took cover and called for backup. Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, Goshen, Johnson and Washington County responded to assist.
A stand-off ensued between police and Blecher as the structure fire raged in the background. Farmington, Prairie Grove and Fayetteville fire departments stood back and waited during the stand-off until the area was secure.
Thompson said Blecher held a gun to his head multiple times and eventually through negotiations came out to the middle of the intersection. At which time, Thompson said, officers were put into a position where they had to use force.
Cantrell, in a county news release, said officers on scene attempted multiple non-lethal methods to secure the suspect, but to no avail.
At 6:05 p.m., the suspect raised one of the weapons and pointed it toward sheriff's deputies. They fired multiple times, striking Blecher, Cantell said. Afterward, officers were seen to rush forward toward the suspect, using a tarp or other material to hide the suspect from public view.
Central EMS was on stand-by and responded immediately to render aid. The suspect then was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center. As the ambulance left, fire crews quickly moved in to put out the fire, which had already engulfed the house. The fire destroyed the house, shed and a truck and car parked in the driveway. A vacant house next door had smoke damage on one side.
Saturday morning, neighbors were shocked about the the shooting.
The neighbor who called 911 declined to give her name. She said she saw Blecher in his back yard near the shed on fire and was concerned for his safety.
"I knew something was wrong. I was trying to talk to him. I could tell he was upset and that wasn't normal," the woman said. "He had a blank look on his face. That is what alarmed me."
The woman said Blecher was the kind of person "to give his shirt off his back" to help others.
Another neighbor, Laurie Scott, said Blecher was married with two stepdaughters in the house and the family was a good family.
"He helped everyone in the neighborhood," Scott said. "The kids are very upset. They would all run in the neighborhood together and are close."
Thompson said Blecher was the only person in the house at the time.
He said Farmington police had an ongoing investigation about a complaint against Blecher but could not comment on the investigation. Washington County Circuit Court records show Alma Blecher, with the same address as Randy Blecher, filed a petition for an order of protection against Blecher on Friday morning on behalf of a minor.
Farmington will be available to assist Arkansas State Police as needed during the investigation, Thompson said.
Dennis Ledbetter, Washington County fire marshal, was at the house Monday morning with state police investigators, to begin his investigation of the cause of the fire. Police on Friday night confirmed the fire was arson but Ledbetter said he could not rule it as arson until he finishes his work.
General News on 06/29/2016