Armed Standoff Ends In Clarkston

Fri., Dec. 25, 1998

From Staff

A Clarkston woman surrendered peacefully after a 21-hour standoff with police during which she fired two rounds and kept a SWAT team at bay.

The neighborhood near Clarkston High School where Kathy Johnston lives was behind barricades until the incident ended at about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday.

“She laid down her gun in the house and was taken into custody,” Clarkston Police Chief Vertie Brown said.

Johnston, about 40, was charged with reckless endangerment and will be evaluated by a mental health professional, Brown said.

The standoff began at 1:45 a.m., when Clarkston police received a 911 call from Johnston’s boyfriend, Lyle Reimers, who reported she had fired a shot.

While officers responded, another shot was fired, this one exiting the home and ricocheting in the area of the high school. Reimers was able to leave.

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