Ortonville- A 35-year-old man who aimed a loaded crossbow at police in an attempt to get them to shoot him did not get his wish.
Instead, Richard Osantowski was arraigned Nov. 11 on three counts of felonious assault and remains in custody at the Oakland County Jail, with a $175,000 cash bond, no 10 percent.
According to an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded at about 3:49 p.m., Nov. 10 to the 600 block of Mill Street for a report of a suicidal subject armed with a crossbow. The 9-1-1 caller reported Osantowski was out-of-control, highly intoxicated and making suicidal statements.
About six patrol units arrived on scene to find Osantowski pointing the crossbow at his head. He then approached deputies while still armed with the crossbow, yelling, ‘I’m go-ing to kill you, so now you have to shoot me.?
Deputies established a perimeter around the residence and evacuated the other residents. Osantowski again approached deputies, refusing to drop the crossbow, and OCSO Sgt. Greg Glover, who was on scene, said the suspect was within about six feet of three deputies when one stopped Osantowski by deploying a Taser. He was subsequently secured and taken by medics to the hospital before being lodged at the Oakland County Jail, where he remains with a $175,000 cash bond, no 10 percent.
‘Fortunately, we were able to use the Taser or he would have been shot,? said Glover. ‘He’s lucky to be alive. Deadly force was more than justified. They made a decision to use the Taser based on training. The deputies did an outstanding job.?