A Clarkesville man police arrested following a standoff over the weekend remains in jail today on $19,000 bond.
62-year-old Kenneth Parks holed up inside his apartment and held police at bay for several hours on Sunday, May 3. Police say he threatened to shoot them.
Hours-long standoff
The incident began around 1:46 p.m. Sunday when officers were called to conduct a welfare check on a man at 124 Ritchie Street. The man, later identified as Parks, was acting erratically and using profane language in public, according to Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett.
“The officer responded and spoke to him then left the scene,” says Barrett. “Then, we got another call shortly after for the same thing.”
When the officer returned, a disheveled Parks ran into his apartment and yelled that he had a gun. “He made terroristic threats to the officer,” Barrett says.
Clarkesville police set up a perimeter and asked nearby residents to remain inside their homes. They called in negotiators from the Habersham and Banks County sheriff’s offices. “While we were trying to speak with him through the apartment door he again stated he was in possession of a firearm and would shoot through the wall,” says Barrett. After about an hour-and-a-half, officers on the scene obtained arrest and search warrants and called in Habersham County’s Special Response Team (SRT).
“There was no perceived danger to the public but we pursued the search warrant for the protection of the residents in the area,” explains Chief Barrett.
SRT officers gained entry into the apartment and used pepper gas to help subdue Parks. They took him into custody at 7:48 p.m. without further incident. Barrett says officers did not find any firearms inside the apartment.
A “good outcome”
After the standoff ended, police took Parks into custody and took him to Habersham Medical Center to be evaluated. He was later booked into the Habersham County jail.
Police charged Parks with making terroristic threats and acts, obstruction of an officer, and disorderly conduct. His bond was set at $1,200 each on the disorderly conduct and obstruction charges and $16,000 for the terroristic threats charge. As of May 5, Parks had still not posted bond.
About fifteen officers from multiple agencies assisted with the response. In addition to Clarkesville police and Habersham and Banks County deputies, officers from the Demorest Police Department and North Georgia Technical College Police Department also responded.
“I would like to thank all the agencies that assisted,” says Chief Barrett. “We’re thankful everyone’s safe and that we had a good outcome.”
