If shoppers at Albertsons in Jackson Hole heard gunshots just after noon Monday, those were bean bags shot to subdue a male holding himself at knifepoint and causing a disturbance in the store, police say.
Jackson Police Department Lt. Russ Ruschill told Cowboy State Daily in a Monday phone interview that the police department, Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Hole Fire and EMS responded to the store at about 12:40 that afternoon, due to a disturbance.
“Upon officer arrival they subdued him, using less lethal impact munitions and a taser,” said Ruschill. “There were no (gun) shots fired - any shots heard came from a less-lethal 12-gauge shotgun and a taser.”
The shotgun fires drag-stabilized bean bags, he said.
The male was subdued with some self-harm injuries and taken to the hospital for treatment. No officers or other parties were injured, Ruschill said, adding, “oddly.”
He gave his phone interview from the hospital, saying another team remained at the store as of 2:30 p.m.
An attendant at Albertsons confirmed via phone that the store shuttered briefly but was open again by 2:30.
The person once medically cleared may be confined by mental health hold — not criminal hold — proceedings, Ruschill said.
No property was damaged, the lieutenant added, though the floor may have blood on it.
“Given the totality of what we went down there to (address),” he said, “it worked out as well as it could have.”
Many 911 calls originated from inside the store.
The disturbance involved the male “holding himself, essentially at knifepoint, screaming, causing a (disturbance),” said Ruschill.
He said there’s no threat to public safety, and the incident is over. At this point it is “unknown” whether drugs or alcohol were factors, he added.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
