Kearney Police Department
On Thursday, March 14th, 2024, at approximately 12:30pm, Kearney Police Department Uniform Patrol Officers responded to a disturbance in Countryside Mobile Home Park. A 34-year-old Kearney man, Rusty Richard, had been driving through yards, destroying property inside a residence and had cut himself with knives.
KPD Officers arrived and attempted to contact Mr. Richard however he barricaded himself with multiple knives inside a residence with an adult female family member inside. KPD/BCSO Emergency Service Unit and Police Drone Teams responded to the location while KPD and BCSO Negotiators established communication with Mr. Richard in an attempt to peacefully resolve the situation and keep the female inside the residence safe.
Despite repeated efforts to de-escalate the situation, Mr. Richard continued to pose a threat to himself and others as he refused to cooperate with officers. After a nearly four-hour standoff and exhausting all efforts to resolve the situation, officers successfully deployed less lethal options to subdue Mr. Richard and prevent serious injury to anyone involved.
Richard was arrested for three counts of attempted assault on an Officer, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, use of a weapon to commit a felony, terroristic threats, resisting arrest, obstructing a Peace Officer and willful reckless driving. Multiple knives were located on Richard when he was contacted and arrested by Officers.
“This incident once again highlights the complex, dangerous, and unpredictable behavior police officers may encounter on any given day. I am extremely confident and proud of the capabilities, training, equipment, and tactics deployed by members of KPD and BCSO during this incident. The efforts to de-escalate, communicate, and resolve this incident with a safe outcome and no serious injuries sustained by the subject or police officers is a direct result of the professionalism, expectations, and leadership displayed during this incident and each day by members of KPD and our allied law enforcement partners.” – Chief Bryan D. Waugh.
The safety of and well-being of our community and our officers are our top priorities in these situations. The area around the residence was temporarily closed to protect the officers responding as well as ensuring the safety of the public. Due to the length and timing of the situation, Kearney Public Schools were contacted to arrange for students transported by KPS school bus and lived in the area to be dropped off at a nearby location and to be escorted home by law enforcement officers.
We are grateful for the quick and coordinated response of our law enforcement officers whose professional and dedicated response were instrumental in resolving this challenging situation. The Kearney Police Department was assisted during this incident by the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office and Good Sarmatian Hospital EMS.