A Frederick police spokesman says an officer used good judgment in refusing to fire at an unarmed man who said he had a gun and yelled, "Shoot me."
Lt. Clark Pennington told The Frederick News-Post on Monday that instead of shooting, Cpl. Reed Preece tackled 26-year-old Nicholas Combs along a downtown street Wednesday afternoon.
Pennington says Preece knew both Combs and a woman Combs grabbed and put in a choke hold as Preece tried to reason with him. Pennington says Preece didn't believe the situation required lethal force.
Combs is charged with assault and other offenses. He's being held with bail set at $200,000. No defense attorney is listed in court records.
The episode began when Preece saw Combs lying down and raising his middle finger to passers-by.
