Shootout kills man, wounds 2 deputies in Faulkner County

BY DEBRA HALE-SHELTON - December 17, 2005
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=News&storyid=139796

CONWAY — A man was shot to death early Friday after he wounded
two Faulkner County sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic-distur-
bance call and, with a shotgun in tow, headed toward a bedroom where
his exgirlfriend was hiding, a sheriff’s office spokesman said.

The woman’s current boyfriend, John Sides Jr., stepped out of the
bedroom and shot the assailant, who already had been wounded in the side
by one of the deputies, sheriff’s Lt. Jack Pike said. Pike identified
the dead man as Christopher Michael Tindoll, 27, whose most recent
address was a Conway apartment but who also had recently lived in Heber
Springs.

Sgt. Jason Bell, who has been with the sheriff’s office eight
years, and Deputy Wesley Martin, an officer for 1 / 2 years,
were treated at Conway Regional
Medical Center and were released later Friday. Bell underwent minor
surgery to remove shotgun pellets, Pike said. Both officers were
relieved of duty with pay, which Pike said is routine procedure for
officers involved in shootings. He said it would give them time to
adjust after their ordeal.

Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because
“he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should
have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives
of other people” in that house.

Sides, the woman, whose name was unavailable, and three children lived
in the small brown, frame house where the shootout occurred. The
residence on Havens Lane — off a gravel road in a remote, wooded area
near Round Mountain — is about six miles south of downtown Conway.

Pike gave this account of the events, which began about 1 : 24 a. m. and
culminated in the shootings at 1 : 55 a. m.:

Bell and Martin responded to a disturbance call at the house. By the
time they got there, Tindoll, who reportedly had broken into the home
and had a physical altercation with Sides, had gone to another residence
to get his 12-gauge shotgun. A person at that house called Sides’
girlfriend and warned her that Tindoll was on his way back ; she in turn
notified the sheriff’s office. Bell and Martin noticed Tindoll driving
toward the house and followed him.

“He jumped out and ran in the house, and they [the deputies ] ran after
him,” Pike said.

At that point, Pike said, Tindoll fired his shotgun once, striking both
officers in the side. Bell returned fire with his service revolver,
striking Tindoll in the side, Pike said. “The suspect turned and started
back down the hall toward the girlfriend’s room,” but Sides shot Tindoll
in the chest. Tindoll was pronounced dead at the scene. Pike did not
know why Martin didn’t return fire but said the officers knew children
were in another room of the house and had to take that into account.

Capt. Cleve Barfield of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation
Division said the agency was investigating the shooting. The division
“has put agents to work... to begin retracing the chain of events that
unfolded,” state police spokesman Bill Sadler said. Pike said Tindoll
had no criminal record in Faulkner County. He said Tindoll had a record
of driving while intoxicated and public intoxication elsewhere. He did
not know if there had been any domestic-violence cases involving Tindoll
in other counties. Late Friday afternoon, no one appeared to be home at
the Sides house, and there was nothing to indicate a shooting had taken
place there hours earlier. A few yards away, neighbor Jon Noble said he
had just gone to bed early Friday morning when he heard what sounded
like someone banging into his neighbors’ house.

Noble said a family had lived there only a few months, and he didn’t
know their names. He did recall a man stopping him one time and saying
he was looking for a woman who had been “cheating on him.”

Noble said he later heard someone “hollering, ‘Chris, put your gun
down.’ I bet you 30 or 40 times.”
He said he also heard shouts of “freeze, stop” and then heard a man
reply, “‘ I ain’t putting my gun down. I ain’t going to jail. ’”
“The last thing I heard was ‘Chris, don’t do that. You don’t want to do
that,’” Noble recalled.

Then, he said, a shotgun fired.
“I heard it go boom, pow, pow, boom, pow,” he said, followed by the
sounds of a smaller weapon going “pow, pow, pow, pow three or four times.”

“I heard [someone ] saying, ‘I’m hit,’” and then another man saying, “‘I
am, too.’”

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Great read, thanks!

I love it how they always have to justify not arresting someone after a legit shooting.

"We didn't arrest him because he didn't do anythign wrong." No shit, so why was it even brought up?

Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house.

- More proof that you aren't always arrested after a shooting unlike some of the ARFCOM doomsayers constantly spout.

WHEW!!!!  That musta been a real squeaker!!!  Glad everyone who should have came out ok in the end.....( well...as okay as you can be after gettin' peppered with shotgun pellets and scared out of your wits )  and that the right person went home in a box.

Quoted: Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house. - More proof that you aren't always arrested after a shooting unlike some of the ARFCOM doomsayers constantly spout.

If you notice its only those members that live in Slave states where no CCW is allowed, like New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Massachusets ect that write those posts.

Quoted: Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house. - More proof that you aren't always arrested after a shooting unlike some of the ARFCOM doomsayers constantly spout.

True,  just don't assume you won't be, and don't run-off at the mouth.  

I'd cover the basics... "He attacked, I was in fear for my life and that of others, I fired after he entered the house and advanced on me."  Then I shut up and say if they want to question me further I'll be happy to cooperate after I have consulted my lawyer.

No need to be dumb and insure they will arrest you.  No need to try and tell them a novels worth of detail while you're hopped up in the moment.



Good job by the boyfriend.

Hey man, nice shot

These things happen!

Quoted: Hey man, nice shot

+1

What a good shot, man.

Quoted: I love it how they always have to justify not arresting someone after a legit shooting. "We didn't arrest him because he didn't do anythign wrong." No shit, so why was it even brought up? hr

Maybe the reporter asked the question? Always looking on the bright side I see.

Quoted: Quoted: I love it how they always have to justify not arresting someone after a legit shooting. "We didn't arrest him because he didn't do anythign wrong." No shit, so why was it even brought up? Maybe the reporter asked the question? Always looking on the bright side I see.

Having been interviewed by biased reporters with leading questions, I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. They try to ask questions that will be answered they way they want them to come out.

Quoted: Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house. - More proof that you aren't always arrested after a shooting unlike some of the ARFCOM doomsayers constantly spout.

Maybe not, but if that guy has one drop of blood in any living person, count on a lawsuit.

I live in the accurately described "slave state" of NY, and it is possible to get a CCW, just not in NYC unless you are connected. I have had a CCW since I was 19. (Cutoff age is 21 now). I doubt the cops brought the issue of arrest up, around here the media always assumes if you shoot anyone you will be charged. They ask the same question when the police shoot someone.  Stories like this are why I have never been afraid of an armed citizenry. I have been a cop 17 years and I will always support the 2nd Ammendment.

Rule number 1 for living a long healthy life.  Avoid love triangles.

According to the Brady Handgun Control Inc, this poor dead soul will be added to the many sensless deaths caused by gun-violence.

In addition, according to the Scary Brady's, the only outcome in this situation was to "inject more violence". Which is a favority thing for them to say.

People don't need guns we have the police.  



Not bashing cops just people who say stupid stuff.

Service revolver?  Little behind the times aren't they?  Police wound, resident kills ironic.

Quoted: Quoted: Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house. - More proof that you aren't always arrested after a shooting unlike some of the ARFCOM doomsayers constantly spout. Maybe not, but if that guy has one drop of blood in any living person, count on a lawsuit.

Not in Florida.  And not in some other states either.

Quoted: Rule number 1 for living a long healthy life.  Avoid love triangles.

Wise words.
Avoid chicks with nutty ex-bfs.

The wierdest part about it is that it's 20 minutes from my house, I have a ton of friends there, family on the SO, I know Wes Martin,and I know people working for the EMS company , and this is the first I've heard of it.

Very interesting read

remember.... only YOU can protect YOU... never count on anyone else..

or you could be dead..

I'm glad all the good guys lived.  The officers earned thier pay that day.


But, I think it shows that sometimes the police still can't protect you even when they are on the scene.

At that point, Pike said, Tindoll fired his shotgun once, striking both officers in the side. Bell returned fire with his service revolver, striking Tindoll in the side, Pike said. “The suspect turned and started back down the hall toward the girlfriend’s room,” but Sides shot Tindoll in the chest. Tindoll was pronounced dead at the scene. Pike did not know why Martin didn’t return fire but said the officers knew children were in another room of the house and had to take that into account.

Why wouldn't the 2nd officer take the shot, if he is able?  I know it said he was considering the kids in the house, but what do you think the nutjob was going to do when he got into the house?  Damned if you do, damned if you don't!  So please DO!!

Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house.

It is not the lack of damning that surprises me, but the obvious praise that is in that sentence.  Even in good shoots, the police are usually a little hesitant to condone it, which is what that is right there.

That is fucking cool.

Quoted: The wierdest part about it is that it's 20 minutes from my house, I have a ton of friends there, family on the SO, I know Wes Martin,and I know people working for the EMS company , and this is the first I've heard of it.

That cause you spend all you time logged on to ARFCOM

Quoted: ...followed by the sounds of a smaller weapon going “pow, pow, pow, pow three or four times.”

Ah a republican in the house!

Quoted: Quoted: Sides was not arrested, Pike said, because “he didn’t do anything wrong.” “ Mr. Sides did exactly what he should have done.... He, along with our officers, potentially saved the lives of other people” in that house. - More proof that you aren't always arrested after a shooting unlike some of the ARFCOM doomsayers constantly spout. True,  just don't assume you won't be, and don't run-off at the mouth.   I'd cover the basics... "He attacked, I was in fear for my life and that of others, I fired after he entered the house and advanced on me."  Then I shut up and say if they want to question me further I'll be happy to cooperate after I have consulted my lawyer. No need to be dumb and insure they will arrest you.  No need to try and tell them a novels worth of detail while you're hopped up in the moment. Good job by the boyfriend.

Well, I think that the fact that the dead guy shot the cops, then was shot by the boyfriend had a lot to do with his not getting arrested.   I honestly believe, if the cops had gotten there after the boyfriend shot the dead guy... the boyfriend would have been arrested and investigation would have been long and drawn out.

No Expert

Quoted: remember.... only YOU can protect YOU... never count on anyone else.. or you could be dead..

"Remember.... only YOU can protect YOU..." and a great bumper sticker was born!

No Expert

What's odd about this is that the dead perp was a cousin to my wife's best friend. She told her he was basically trash (obviously). I'm glad he got popped before he could do more damage to anyone else.

Quoted: If you notice its only those members that live in Slave states where no CCW is allowed, like New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Massachusets ect that write those posts.

And once again you are wrong in asserting that there is no CCW in NYS.

And people don't say that there is an arrest in EVERY shooting.

Quoted: Quoted: The wierdest part about it is that it's 20 minutes from my house, I have a ton of friends there, family on the SO, I know Wes Martin,and I know people working for the EMS company , and this is the first I've heard of it. That cause you spend all you time logged on to ARFCOM

not all of it.

Quoted: Quoted: Hey man, nice shot +1 What a good shot, man.

+2

That's why I say nice shot

Quoted: Service revolver?  Little behind the times aren't they?  ...

You’re assuming the reporter actually knows the difference between a revolver and a semi-auto pistol.

Not a safe assumption IMHO.  

Quoted: If you notice its only those members that live in Slave states where no CCW is allowed, like New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Massachusets ect that write those posts.

Lots of people Carry Concealed Weapons (legally) in California.