Suicidal Man Points Gun At Police

A Pinehurst man threatening to commit suicide pointed a hunting rifle at police officers who tried to stop him, Pinehurst authorities said Friday.

Terry W. Pennington, 31, had barricaded himself inside a mobile home on B Street when officers reached the scene Thursday. When Pennington produced the rifle, a multiagency task force was called into service, and police sealed off the area.

Shoshone County Sheriff’s dispatcher Florence Peite spent the next hour-and-a-half negotiating with Pennington by telephone.

“She did a great job,” said Lt. Spike Angle.

Finally Pennington agreed to talk to officers outside and surrendered.

He was taken to Shoshone Medical Center for evaluation and then to the Shoshone County jail.