Deputies shoot man with stun gun after standoff

Published 12:00 am Friday, January 7, 2011

After an hour-long standoff, Rowan County deputies used a stun gun to subdue a man who authorities said in a press release had threatened to ěkill any law enforcement officer that showed up at his address.î
Because of that threat, several deputies went to the home of James Edward Helms Jr. at 185 Mendenhall Road to serve an arrest warrant for domestic violence and a domestic violence protection order, the Rowan County Sheriffís Office said in the press release.
Approaching the home around 7:50 p.m., deputies saw Helms holding a long gun and standing behind a door.
The deputies secured the area and called in the Sheriffís Office Special Response Unit. Authorities talked with Helms until he left the house around 8:45 p.m.
Though unarmed, Helms refused to follow deputiesí instructions, the press release said.
ěAfter being unable to persuade Helms to submit to commands, the use of a Taser was made to allow Helms to be taken into custody without further incident,î the press release said.
After taking Helms into custody, deputies seized several guns from his house, the press release said.
Helms was being held Friday night at the Rowan County Magistrateís Office on the domestic violence charge. The Sheriffís Office said more charges would be filed.