Police: Man in custody following standoff at Mount Pleasant shopping center

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant police say one person is in custody after a standoff in a shopping center parking lot.

MPPD officials said Richard Rushing was placed into custody following the standoff which happened at the Wando Crossing near TJ Maxx.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said the incident began when deputies received information that someone was making threats to harm people at a Walmart, and making statements that the person was also going to inflict harm onto himself.

“He did not indicate a specific person or Walmart,” said Capt. Roger Antonio with the sheriff’s office."After he was identified, deputies and officers searched the area for him."

Mount Pleasant police officers then located the suspect at Wando Crossing.

According to Inspector Chip Googe with MPPD, the suspect was given commands to get out of his vehicle but refused to do so.

“Due to his non-compliance, the Mount Pleasant Police Department SWAT team and negotiators were called to the scene,” Googe said.

A report states that negotiators continued to try and talk the man into leaving his vehicle but he continued to refuse while waving a knife and scissors.

Googe said the SWAT team deployed gas munitions into the vehicle, and the suspect then came out where he was taken into custody by a K-9 unit and SWAT team members.

Police say the man was transported by EMS to a local hospital.

“The Mount Pleasant Police Department wants to thank the community for their patience as we handled this situation!” MPPD officials said in a statement.

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