Bond set at $1.5 million for Adrian man who held police at bay

3/11/2013

ADRIAN -- A $1.5 million bond has been set for an Adrian man who police say held them at bay for seven hours on Feb. 23.

Shawn Julius Gauss, 37, is facing six felony charges, including two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. He is also being charged with malicious destruction of property, weapons – dangerous weapon – carrying with unlawful intent, weapons – discharge in a building and weapons – felony firearm.

A preliminary hearing with District Court 1 Judge James Sheridan has been set for 1 p.m. on March 25. Mr. Gauss was arraigned in 2-A District Court in Adrian today.

The charges stem from shots fired while officers attempted to negotiate with Mr. Gauss during a standoff at 106 Renfrew Ave. Police had been called to check on the welfare of the suspect, who had been reported as suicidal, officials said.

According to police, Mr. Gauss fired several rounds inside his residence while police were inside the house trying to negotiate his surrender. Mr. Gauss then fired several more rounds, destroying a Michigan State Police robot that had been deployed into the house by the State Police Emergency Services Team.

No one was injured during the standoff, and none of the rounds fired by Mr. Gauss exited the residence, according to police.