Man is arrested in gunfight with police

Jace Radke

Monday, April 16, 2001 | 11:36 a.m.

A 56-year-old Henderson man was arrested late Saturday night on a charge of attempted murder of a police officer after an exchange of gunfire inside a home near the Eastern edge of Henderson.

After a short standoff, Joseph King was arrested and charged with firing a rifle at an officer, who encountered King behind a bedroom door, Henderson Police spokeswoman Valerie Klein said.

Police were dispatched to a home in the 200 block of Pontiac Street, off Lake Mead Drive east of Warm Springs Road, about 10:30 p.m. Saturday night on a call regarding a family fight, Klein said.

Officers found three people in the living room, and one of the officers went down a hall to check whether anyone else was present. As the officer opened a bedroom door he saw King behind the door with a rifle, and as the officer started to back away King opened fire, and the officer returned fire, Klein said.

The officer announced himself as a police officer as he made his way down the hall, Klein said.

No one was injured in the exchange of gunfire, but King remained in the bedroom, and Henderson's special response team was called to the scene. Neighbors were evacuated, but King walked outside and gave himself up about an hour later, Klein said.

The name of the officer who fired at King will not be released for 48 hours per department policy.

The latest incident involving a Henderson officer who fired at a suspect in the line of duty was on Feb. 11 1999, when officer Brian Flatt shot and killed J.C. Daniels at an apartment complex.