OTTAWA, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has identified the man found deceased following a violent confrontation and hours-long standoff that left an Ottawa police officer injured on Friday evening.
The suspect is identified as Zachary Pule, 33, of Coffeyville, Kansas.
The Incident
The violence began at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at a multi-unit residence in the 500 block of South Locust Street. The Ottawa Police Department Special Tactics and Rescue Team—a joint unit with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office—was attempting to serve a warrant on Pule for a homicide out of Kansas City, Missouri.
As officers approached the residence, Pule fired from inside the building, striking an Ottawa police officer. Following the initial gunfire, law enforcement established a perimeter and treated the situation as a barricaded subject operation.
Resolution and Findings
Tactical teams from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI eventually relieved local units. At approximately 9:40 p.m., teams entered the apartment and discovered Pule deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
Critically, the KBI confirmed that no law enforcement officers fired their weapons during the entirety of the incident.
Status Update
- The Officer: Sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He is currently being treated at a Kansas City area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
- The Investigation: The KBI is conducting an independent investigation into the use of force. They noted that current findings are preliminary and a thorough report will take several weeks to finalize.
No further information has been released at this time.
