Suspect Shot, Killed By Police In Standoff

BEAUMONT – Riverside County Sheriff’s SWAT team officers shot and killed a man on Monday morning in a standoff that included threats against his wife and wounding a police dog.

1700 Morgan Avenue

Chandler Cardwell, 38, of Beaumont, was shot after refusing to cooperate with police officers, trying to enter a residence after being observed with a handgun. The ordeal began just after 9 a.m. and concluded by 12:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Morgan Ave.
Beaumont police were called at 9:04 a.m. by the man’s wife who reported Cardwell made threats against her life. One of the first responding officers arrived at the residence to see a man who matched Cardwell’s description pacing in front of the garage.
Deputy Albert Martinez said the officer made contact with Cardwell, ordering him to show his hands. “The subject failed to obey the officer’s orders,” said Martinez, “and placed one of his hands behind his back, only displaying one hand at a time as he faced the officer.” Martinez said the officer request additional units including the assistance of a California Highway Patrol K9 unit.
Cardwell, said Martinez, backed into the open garage while continuing to hide his hands from the officer. Police said Cardwell continued to refuse officer’s instructions to show his hands and exit the garage.
The canine unit was sent into the garage. A gunshot was heard and the dog returned to its handler, having reportedly been shot by the suspect. The dog was taken to a local veterinarian hospital and is expected to survive. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiations Team and SWAT units were requested. Several telephone calls were made to the residence, but an unknown person picked up the phone and immediately hung up, said Martinez. Crisis negotiators managed to make contact with Cardwell with a cellular phone, attempting to convince him to surrender peacefully.
SWAT units could see the suspect was armed with a handgun inside the garage.

Martinez said Cardwell attempted to break into the residence through an interior garage door, but SWAT team members fearing for the safety of occupants fired their weapons and struck the suspect.
Cardwell died at the scene. A female and her infant son were found safely inside the residence. Martinez said it was an ongoing investigation.

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