TOWN OF SOUTHEAST – Putnam County Sheriff’s authorities on Tuesday identified the man who held police at bay for seven hours shooting at them from his home on Nichols Road in the Town of Southeast as George Bateman, 60, of 29 Nichols Road.
According to preliminary reports, Bateman telephoned his life insurance agent around midday on Monday and expressed thoughts of suicide. He also reportedly threatened to use violence against any police officers who came to his house.
The insurance agent notified the sheriff’s office about the call.
When deputies and state troopers went to Bateman’s house, where he lived alone, to check his welfare, they heard several gunshots inside the house but at this point have not determined if any of those shots exited the building.
The Putnam Emergency Response Team was dispatched to the scene. At one point, Bateman momentarily came out of the front door holding a handgun and wearing a bullet-proof vest. A police negotiator also called him urging him to come outside without the gun, but those attempted were fruitless.
A short time later, state police send in a remote-controlled robot and found Bateman had committed suicide.
When authorities went inside the house, they found two loaded revolvers and a number of spent bullet casings on the floor. They also found three pet dogs inside and unharmed.
During the standoff Route 121 was closed to traffic and residents of five neighboring homes were evacuated.
