LITTLE ROCK — Tear gas shot into a southwest Little Rock house ended a threehour standoff Monday when the man inside walked out the front door to avoid the smoke.
Little Rock police went to 4106 Bruno Road on Monday morning to follow up on a report from Friday that Terrick Washington, 30, beat his wife, who is eight months pregnant, with a handgun before stealing her red Dodge Neon, police said. Chinnaill Washington remained in a Little Rock hospital Monday in good condition and the fetus seemed unharmed, police said.
The detectives found the Neon in the driveway about 11:30 a.m. and knocked on the door. No one answered.
Thinking Washington might be armed - and with unserved warrants in hand charging him with aggravated robbery, second-degree domestic battery, violating an order of protection and aggravated burglary - they called out the police department's special weapons and tactics team.
Police tried calling the phone at the house and talking over a patrol car's loudspeaker to reach Washington, who police said did not respond.
After three hours, police decided to go in. SWAT officers fired gas canisters through the house's windows and doors. Washington walked out the front door unarmed and was immediately arrested and placed on theground. Paramedics assigned to the SWAT unit provided medical care until an ambulance arrived.
Two hours later, the gas had not cleared enough for officers to go back into the house to search for a gun.
During the standoff, police stationed an officer at nearby Baseline Elementary School as a precaution.
According to Pulaski County court records, Washington has previous convictions for theft, drug possession and domestic battery. Another domestic battery case against him, connected to an arrest last year, is pending.
Police said Washington no longer lives at the Bruno Road house, and Pulaski County records show his wife has a current order of protection against him.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 06/03/2008