TAC Team arrests felon

MT. PLEASANT — At approximately 1:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, Mt. Pleasant Police Department responded to a call of a man brandishing a gun inside an apartment in the 1300 block of E. Haynes Court

According to the police department, two young teenage girls escaped the apartment, went to the neighbor’s and called 911 because they were scared.

In the criminal complaint, Police Chief Lyle Murray states that dispatched informed officers of “a man with a gun acting out of control,” and “the defendant had started acting crazy and began to yell and scream and not make any sense and was waving a pistol around.”

According to court documents, when officers first arrived, they found the Michael Ryan, 59 of Mt. Pleasant, as dispatched described.

“The defendant stopped making any noise and would not respond via words, texts, or phone calls from not only law enforcement but family and friends, as well,” Murray documented in his report.

According to police documents, the mother of the teenage girls stated that Ryan had stayed with them the past couple of days because he needed somewhere to stay.

The mother also told police that Ryan “acted crazy like this the other night, as well,” and she had witnessed him snorting a white substance off the counter.

“Due to lack of communication and safety of the citizens at the apartment complex, it was decided to use a SWAT team that deployed gas canisters into the apartment to get him out,” Murray states in the criminal complaint.

“The Jefferson County TAC [Tactical Apprehension and Control] team assisted and deployed gas canisters into the residence,” the news release states. “Ryan came out after this and was taken into custody peacefully.”

According to the criminal complaint, at this time, Ryan made statements that “the girls had four boys try and kill him.”

“On the way to the jail, he told the officer if we had come in he would have shot two of us,” Murray stated in his report.”

Mt. Pleasant Police charged Ryan with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Assault by displaying a weapon and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree.

The court issued a cash only bail of $12,000 for Ryan and set the preliminary hearing for Feb. 9 at 9 a.m.

Police documents state that Ryan is a known convicted felon for a similar instance.

According to court filing from March 25, 2021, Henry County Attorney Darin Stater charged Ryan with a Class D felony for Possession of Firearm or Offensive Weapon by a Felon.

Mt. Pleasant Police responded to calls of gunfire for the March 2021 incident occurred at Custom Stay Motel.

Due to the prosecution not meeting Ryan’s demand to a speedy trial within 90 days, Starter filed a motion to dismiss the case.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com