POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — A man whose actions prompted gunfire from law enforcement is behind bars today.
Mason County authorities say Larry Cottrill, 63, of Point Pleasant was taken into custody after an incident at a home Sunday in Mason County. Deputies responded to a call of violation of a domestic violence petition. A deputy a state trooper, and two Point Pleasant Police officers arrived around 8 p.m. Sunday at the home after Cottrill’s wife called 911 claiming he was trying to break in.
“Mr. Cottrill was on the front porch armed with a handgun,” said Mason County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chris Zerkle.
Zerkle said Cottrill ignored repeated orders to put down the gun and give up.
“He turned the weapons toward the deputy and the deputy fired four shots toward him. The rounds hit the house and the fence where he was standing, but they got deflected. At that point Mr. Cottrill threw the gun down and he was taken into custody,” Zerkle added.
The Sheriff’s Department had been to the home back on Friday night to serve the Domestic Violence petition on Cottrill which ordered him away from his home. He returned around 8 p.m. on Sunday.
“When we served the domestic violence petition, we took his weapons from him and gave them to a responsible third party. We don’t know where these weapons came from. Whether he didn’t tell us about these and had them hidden or what,” he explained.
Cottrill is charged with four counts of assault on a police officer, which has recently been elevated to a felony charge. He was also charged with violation of a domestic violence petition and attempted burglary. He’s lodged in the Western Regional Jail with no bond.
Deputies say Cottrill suffered some bruises and abrasions as he was removed from the porch. One deputy suffered a minor hand injury. Both were treated and released.
Cottrill is behind bars at the Western Regional Jail.