Standoff With Newberg Police Ends Peacefully

By Kristian Foden-Vencil | April 15, 2010 3:32 p.m. | Updated: June 16, 2010 11:56 p.m. | Portland, OR

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A man is behind bars in Newberg Thursday after a standoff in which he pulled a gun and asked police to shoot him. Rather than use force, police talked to the man for an hour and a half to calm things down. 33-year-old Justin Niehus is safe and in custody despite pulling a gun from his holster and demanding an officer shoot him. Newberg-Dundee Police Department Lieutenant, Jeff Kosmicki, said the suspect made verbal threats but didn't cross the threshold of making a physical threat. "You know the officer probably would have been justified either way. But we're always happier if we can resolve the thing peacefully. There isn't one officer I know of who comes to work and is excited to deal with these types of issues. We always want the outcome that happened today. That's what our goal is," he said.Kosmicki says police gradually built up rapport with Niehus and then convinced him to give up. Niehus will be charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Other charges are pending. He may also be given a mental health evaluation.

© 2010 OPB

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