Charges filed against man accused of shooting 3 Washington police officers

WASHINGTON: Prosecutors have filed assault and gun charges against a Washington, D.C., man accused of shooting three police officers who were trying to serve animal cruelty warrants, ending a daylong standoff.

The officers were treated for leg and arm wounds at hospitals in the nation’s capital and released, the Metropolitan Police Department said Friday. The fourth officer was treated for other injuries.

Prosecutors said authorities also removed several guns and 31 dogs from the home of Stephen C. Rattigan, also known as Julius James. An attorney for Rattigan did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The shooting came as officers went to Ratigan’s home Wednesday morning to serve an animal cruelty warrant issued after he was allegedly recorded punching one of his dogs that approached neighbors in the southeast part of the city. Arrived.

According to court documents, when officers tried to enter they encountered aggressive dogs and shortly thereafter, a volley of gunfire struck the officers. Police said Rattigan went back into the house and locked himself inside, firing his gun sporadically throughout the day until his arrest late Wednesday night.

She told police she opened fire because she feared police might hurt her or her dogs, authorities allege in documents.

Rattigan was charged with assault with intent to murder while armed, assault on a police officer while armed, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

Disclaimer: This post has been automatically published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – The Associated Press)