Officers involved in Saturday night standoff

McCreary County officers found themselves in a standoff against an armed suspect Saturday night when responding to a Stearns residence on a domestic violence call.

The ordeal began at 11:41 p.m. Saturday night when McCreary 911 received a call regarding a man choking and assaulting his girlfriend at a residence on B. Clark Road.
McCreary County Sheriff’s Deputies Odell Smith and Charles Perry arrived at the residence, finding a child outside on the phone with 911, stating the suspect had choked the female victim, and had slammed her against a wall.

As the officers announced their presence and entered the home they were confronted by Kristopher K. Stallings, 23 who had a long shotgun fitted with a scope pointed at them. Behind Stallings were three children and the female victim.

Kentucky State Police Troopers Shaler Jones, Wendel Higgenbotham and Matt Ridener responded to the scene to assist, and the five officers found themselves in a standoff with the suspect, who refused to lower his weapon and kept it pointed at the officers.

The standoff lasted nearly 20 minutes before Stallings finally gave up his weapon, which was subsequently found to be not loaded, but the suspect continued to be combative with the officers and resisted when they tried to take him into custody. After a brief scuffle, Stallings was arrested.

Stallings was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time.

“I am very proud of the officers for making sound judgment calls when confronted by an armed man,” Sheriff Randy Waters said. “It was a very tense situation that could have escalated into something much worse. The officers exhibited restraint and were able to take the suspect into custody without any innocent bystanders getting hurt.”
Sheriff Waters assisted at the scene.

Stallings was charged with nine counts of wanton endangerment, Assault 4th Degree – domestic violence, Menacing, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Alcohol Intoxication.