UPDATE: Man arrested after Standoff In Rich Hill

Michael A Kocurek

On July 26, 2015 at approximately 7:45 am a Deputy from the Bates County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a 308 W Park St. in Rich Hill, MO in regards to a disturbance that was in progress. The wife of the suspect informed the Deputy that her husband was threatening to commit suicide and had struck his father. She also said that he was going to shoot a cop. The suspect had barricaded himself inside the residence by nailing the front door shut and would not come outside.

The Sheriff's Emergency Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Bates County EMS were also dispatched to the scene. A Deputy, who is a Certified Negotiator, attempted to negotiate with the suspect over the P.A. System with negative results. Because of extreme temperatures a secondary tactical team was requested through the Cass County Sheriff's Office.

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After several hours of attempting to coax the subject out through the use of a P.A. System the SERT Team deployed a negotiation throw phone through a window. A negotiation throw phone is a phone in a plastic case that is connected to a intercom box located in the Major Crimes Unit. The Negotiation Team attempted to make contact through the use of this type of phone for approximately an hour. While the Negotiation Team attempted to make contact the Detectives obtained a search warrant and an arrest warrant for the subject.

Contact was eventually made through to his cell phone. Negotiators were able to talk with the suspect, identified as Michael A Kocurek, (6/3/75). Michael was agitated and continued to hang up on the Negotiators. After a short time Michael exited the side door of the house where he was taken into custody by the perimeter team with a minor scuffle as he kicked one of the Deputies.

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Michael was transported to the Bates County Law Enforcement Center where he was booked in on Domestic Violence Charge with a $10,000 cash or surety bond. He was also charged with Resisting Arrest with a $2500 cash or surety bond. Additional charges are being reviewed at the Bates County Prosecutors Office. The Cass County Tactical Team's response was canceled as the subject was taken into custody prior to their arrival.

Sheriff Anderson would like to thank the Rich Hill Lions Club for the use of the air conditioned building, the City of Rich Hill Public Works Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Cass County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Anderson said, "I am proud of all the Deputies and agencies that responded and worked together to end this situation without anyone being hurt. Our first priority was to ensure the safety of innocent citizens in our community and to do our best to take people in to custody with as minimal force as necessary. Today we were able to achieve that with staff that had patience and the proper training to bring this 6 hour standoff to a peaceful resolution."

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