ANN ARBOR, MI — A Washtenaw County man is facing five felonies in connection with a 36-hour standoff with police where several rounds were fired but no one was injured.
Omar Shafie, 32, was arraigned March 29 on three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a count of body armor-wearing during commission of a violent crime and a count of firearms discharge in or at a building, court records show.
Shafie was armed with multiple weapons and was wearing a flak jacket with multiple magazines strapped to his body when authorities attempted to evacuate him from his parent’s home, police said.
Crisis negotiators, SWAT team members, deputies and officers from numerous police and fire agencies were on scene for nearly two days before arresting Shafie. No one was injured but police equipment was destroyed during the standoff, police said.
Barricaded gunman surrenders peacefully after 36-hour standoff in Washtenaw County
The arrest prompted a demonstration Sunday, April 4 outside the Ann Arbor Police Department, located downtown as 301 E Huron St, featuring several “boogaloo boys” armed with AR-15 rifles and tactical gear.
The Ann Arbor Police Department did not respond to the barricaded gunman situation in Superior Township. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office handled the situation.
The event was organized to draw attention to Shafie’s recent arrest, and to stand up for the Second Amendment, according to an event flyer promoted on social media.
Timothy Teagan told people at the scene outside the Ann Arbor Police Departments that they were protesting how police handled the standoff, according to MLive reports. Teagan, a Plymouth resident, was also at the Jan. 17 demonstration in Lansing,
Supporters of Omar Shafie say police mishandled the incident and that Shafie was “stripped of his Second Amendment rights” during the ordeal.
The handful of protesters lingered outside the Ann Arbor Police Department and City Hall for around an hour, police said.
“Armed individuals with bullet-proof vests were marching back and forth in front of the building and streamed it on Facebook which our staff was monitoring,” Ann Arbor police Lt. Mike Scherba said.
Scherba said the department was aware the group was protesting the arrest of the individual involved in the incident in Superior Township.
“It was almost like they were trying to get attention — we didn’t engage them because we weren’t in need to do so, and they kind of got disappointed and they left,” Scherba said. “They were protesting legally and peacefully, so there was no reason for us to go out there.”
Armed boogaloo protesters get chilly reception at events in Lansing, Ann Arbor
Throughout the demonstration, Boogaloo members claimed police used unnecessary force during his arrest.
In a statement released Monday, Derrick Jackson with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said the actions the department took throughout the ordeal were appropriate to make sure individuals involved were safe.
“When deputies responded he was armed, refused to lay down his weapons and proceeded to barricade himself inside of his parents’ home,” said Jackson, community engagement director at the sheriff’s office.
Shafie’s parents called 911 at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, reporting that their son was suffering a mental health crisis, was armed, and had assaulted them, police said. Over the course of the day he fired his weapons numerous times, Jackson said.
“Many people watched his Facebook Live video where you can see him talking to officers and shooting towards the area where he believed they were,” Jackson said.
Arriving deputies were able to safely evacuate the family from the home, but Shafie refused to exit, leading to the standoff where he fired off several rounds, destroying police equipment, Jackson said.
“Even in such a dangerous situation our staff and specialty teams were able to evacuate his parents, keep neighbors safe, and ultimately help our subject get the help he needs without anyone being injured,” Jackson said. “It’s a situation none of us want to be involved in but one we have an obligation to respond to. In a really unfortunate situation, it was the best possible outcome.”
Shafie’s attorney, Dan Geherin, could not be reached for comment.
Shafie is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.
READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:
Family safely evacuated as police negotiate with barricaded gunman
Suspected bank robber who crashed on U.S. 23 fleeing police arraigned on 11 charges
3 new murals bring beauty back to historic Ann Arbor church
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