The suspect was suicidal and had threatened anyone who came to the house, according to Muterspaw.
In a 911 call obtained by the Journal-News, a female caller, who describes herself as Pursley’s girlfriend, told the dispatcher that she believed he may have shot himself. She said she heard several shots.
Then, a few seconds later, she told the dispatcher she could see her boyfriend and he was walking around in the living room.
The dispatcher told the woman to hide behind a tree or a shed and asked for her location.
Then the caller said her boyfriend wanted “death by a cop.”
She said her boyfriend came over to spend time with her because he was considering suicide, she told the dispatcher. She was worried that he may try to shoot at officers, she told the 911 dispatcher.
She also told the dispatcher that she was able to sneak out of the home with her cell phone.
A Special Response Team was called, and the area was blocked during the standoff, the police chief said. Tactical officers cleared the scene around 10 a.m. after they went inside the residence but did not find Pursley.
Muterspaw said the incident went “very well” because no one was injured. He said police were also helped because the incident occurred on a cold Sunday morning and few residents were outside.
Following a search involving officers from Franklin and Middletown, Pursley was found on Bryant Avenue in Middletown.
The handgun involved in the original incident was located inside a house in the 2300 block of Longfellow Street where Pursley was known to visit, according to Muterspaw.
Pursley was charged including discharging a firearm in a structure, weapons under disability, tampering with evidence, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to a release issued by the department.
He appeared Monday morning in Middletown Municipal Court, where his preliminary hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to court records.
He remains in the Middletown City Jail.
Four other people were arrested and charged in connection to the investigation, police said.
- Misty Mavety, 36, of Middletown, was charged with endangering children, obstructing official business, and an outstanding warrant.
- Michael Spivey, 24, of Middletown, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing official business, and resisting arrest.
- Jonathan Pierson, 31, of Middletown, was booked on an outstanding warrant from Pettis County, Missouri.
- Amelia Carrie Lyninger, 30, of Middletown, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The cases involving Mavety, Spivey and Lyninger were continued until they could hire attorneys, according to court records.
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