A Bryan man in a 16 hour standoff with College Station police came to an end after an armored vehicle from the FBI was used to break into Rockies Grill and Saloon.
Lieutenant Craig Anderson says the FBI’s “Bearcat” caused enough damage to the building to set off the fire sprinklers.
Anderson says 38 year old Michael Blake Jones did not respond to questions Tuesday about why he entered the restaurant and fired guns twice.
Jones is being held on a bond of $250,000 dollars on two charges.
Jones was served a warrant Tuesday afternoon on a charge of family violence assault. Anderson says the victim and Jones were in a dating relationship.
After Jones surrendered Tuesday around 3 a.m., he was arrested on a felony criminal mischief charge. According to the arrest report, CSPD officers stated Jones damaged a robot that was sending video from the front of the business back to those who were deployed.
Click below for comments from Lt. Craig Anderson, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver at midday Tuesday:
Listen to “How the 16 hour Rockies standoff ended” on Spreaker.
Tuesday evening news release from College Station police:
The offense of Continuous Family Violence has been added to the charge of Criminal Mischief against Mr. Michael Jones. It has been determined that Mr. Jones was in a dating relationship with another person who was also inside of the business, and committed an act of Family Violence before officers were called to the scene.
The following is a sequence of events that occurred at Rockies Grill and Saloon on Monday, August 13, 2018.
On August 13, 2018, at approximately 10:56 AM, officers with the College Station Police Department were dispatched to 2501 Texas Avenue South, Rockies Grill and Saloon, in reference to receiving multiple calls of gunshots being fired at that location. Witnesses advised that a white male was inside the business threatening to harm himself and firing rounds inside the business. Officers on scene met with a nearby witness who assisted with the recovery of a round that was fired into their business. Witnesses further advised that Mr. Jones had been drinking all day and in an earlier altercation, he shattered the front window at Rockies. After several failed attempts to open lines of communication with Mr. Jones, officers on scene called in the College Station Police Department SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Team.
Officers established an inner perimeter around the business, and then worked to secure an outer perimeter by making contact with surrounding businesses and evacuating employees and customers. During this time, Mr. Jones continually approached the front door of Rockies to yell profanities at the officers on scene.
The Hostage Negotiation Team continued their attempt to speak with Mr. Jones for numerous hours, without any success at engaging him in a productive conversation, or convincing him to exit the business. At different times during the negotiation, Mr. Jones became increasingly agitated to the point of firing additional rounds inside the business. Several times, Mr. Jones exited the door of the business with a handgun in his hand or tucked in his waistband. Countless times, officers gave Mr. Jones commands to drop his weapon and surrender his position, although he refused to comply. At one point during the extended negotiation, Mr. Jones exited the front door of the business and raised his firearm, pointing it in the direction of numerous members of law enforcement who were staged in the area. Fearing for the life and safety of law enforcement personnel, an FBI Agent assisting CSPD, fired one round, but did not strike him. The FBI SWAT team, as well as the Bryan police department SWAT Team were on scene providing support at the request of the College Station police department due to the extended operation.
The CSPD Hostage Negotiation Team continued to try and communicate with Mr. Jones for several hours throughout the night, but Mr. Jones continued to be irate and not respond to their attempts to contact him. Due to the difficult and dangerous conditions being created by Mr. Jones, an armored vehicle was used to breach the front door and wall of the business. After doing so, Mr. Jones voluntarily surrendered to the FBI SWAT Team, who were stationed near the front door, at approximately 3:10 AM.
The Offense of Continuous Family Violence is committed when a person:
Then and there intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly cause bodily injury to a person with whom the defendant had or had a dating relationship, as described by Section 71.0021(b) of the Texas Family Code, and the conduct by the defendant occurred during a period that was 12 months or less in duration from the last occurrence of an act of Family Violence.
The FBI takes very seriously any shooting incident involving our agents. The FBI adheres to the Department of Justice Use of Deadly Force Policy, and reviews each incident thoroughly, objectively, and as expeditiously as possible. The FBI places tremendous emphasis on training and only uses deadly force when absolutely necessary.
9:55 a.m. update:
The suspect that was arrested in this incident is:
Michael Blake Jones
DOB; 12/23/79
A Resident of Bryan, Texas
Mr. Jones was arrested for the charge of Criminal Mischief. This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the College Station Police Department at 979-764-3600.
In addition, the College Station Police Department thanks the Bryan Police Department for their assistance with the incident.
Tuesday – 6:20 a.m. update:
On Monday, August 13, 2018, at about 10:56 a.m., officers with the College Station Police Department were dispatched to 2501 Texas Avenue South, Rockies Grill and Saloon, in reference to receiving multiple calls of gunshots being fired at that location. When officers arrived, they immediately secured the parking area and attempted to make contact with the person or persons inside the business.
After observing a male inside the business and unable to make contact with him, the CSPD SWATT and Hostage Negotiation Teams were called to assist with contacting the male. Officers from the City of College Station Marshall’s Office, Constables with Brazos County Precinct 3, and The Department of Public Safety also responded to assist with roadway closure on Texas Avenue and Southwest Parkway. This portion of the roadway was closed for the safety of the public while the incident was taking place.
At approximately 3:07 AM, the suspect, a white male, voluntarily surrendered to police officers. Charges are pending and more details in reference to the incident will be provided later today. The roadway has been reopened to the public. The City of College Station is currently working to restore power to Rockies Grill and Saloon.
There is currently no danger to the public. This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the College Station Police Department at (979) 764-3600.
The College Station Police Department thanks the Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, the City of College Station Marshall’s Office, and the Brazos County Precinct 3 Constables Office for their assistance.
5 p.m. update:
College Station police officers from two shifts are in their sixth hour of dealing with a standoff at Rockies Grill and Saloon at Texas and Southwest Parkway.
Lt. Craig Anderson says they are still trying to visit with the shooter, who is alone in the building.
Lt. Anderson said random shots were fired inside the business, but no one was hit and no one has been injured.
The standoff continues to block Texas Avenue between Southwest Parkway and Krenek Tap Road.
The detour is also affecting bus service from the Brazos Transit District and Texas A&M.
CSPD posted on its Facebook page that this is not an active shooting scene, but there was an evacuation businesses within line of sight of Rockies.
Responding to a Facebook question about why a flashbang or another method of forced entry has not been used, the CSPD response was…quoting…”Our policy is to use the least amount of force reasonably necessary to meet lawful objectives.”
Quoting another CSPD Facebook post, “protecting the general public’s safety is our top priority. A bystander getting shot is something we’re trying to prevent – while we make every effort to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.”
CSPD thanked Texas A&M police on Twitter for assisting with other calls while two shifts of CSPD officers have been at Rockies.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued a statement that the agency worked with the owner of Rockies to provide CSPD a live video feed of the interior of the business. TABC executive director Bentley Nettles of Bryan thanked the business owner for their willingness to assist police.
News release from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission:
TABC Law Enforcement personnel responded alongside officers from the College Station Police Department following a suspected shooting incident at Rockies, a TABC-licensed business located
at 2501 Texas Ave. in College Station.
TABC agents remained on the scene to assist in securing the perimeter during CSPD’s negotiations with the suspected shooter. Agency officials also worked with the business owner to provide police a live video feed of the interior of the business.
Any breach of the peace at a TABC-licensed business, such as shootings or assaults, are investigated by the agency’s Law Enforcement personnel. TABC officials regularly work with law enforcement to respond to, and investigate, these incidents.
Statement from Bentley Nettles, TABC Executive Director: “We’re grateful to the leadership and officers of the College Station Police Department and the other agencies who responded to this incident. Helping to keep our licensed businesses safe is at the core of TABC’s mission, and we’re proud to work alongside our fellow law enforcement agencies in support of Texans.
I’d also like to thank the owners of Rockies for their cooperation throughout this incident. Each retailer has a responsibility to ensure safety at their business, and the business owner’s willingness to assist police during an incredibly stressful event demonstrates their leadership and dedication to public safety.”
Update 2:00 p.m.
Texas Avenue is blocked in both directions between Southwest Parkway and Krenek Tap Road.
Update 1:30 p.m.
College Station police closed Texas Avenue traffic southbound at Southwest Parkway and northbound at Krenek Tap Road.
CSPD also issued a tweet that “Businesses across Texas from Rockies should shelter in place and prepare for evacuation instructions.”, and a tweet stating “If you can see Rockies, you are not safe. The media across Texas needs to move. New media staging is at the PD”.
Original story:
College Station police responded around 11 a.m. Monday to a report of gunfire near Texas and Southwest Parkway.
According to CSPD’s Twitter account, “A subject entered Rockies and fired a gun. We do not know how many rounds have been fired. No one is injured at this time. SWAT and our Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT) are on scene working towards a peaceful resolution.”
CSPD’s Facebook page also added a statement that there are no hostages.
Lt. Craig Anderson says people inside Rockies Grill and Saloon and nearby businesses were asked to stay inside.
Traffic on Texas and Southwest Parkway were not being impeded, but access in and out of the shopping center parking lot where Rockies is located was blocked.
Click below for comments from Lt. Craig Anderson, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
