To Protect and To Serve Part II

Go back and read yesterday's post (and commentary) if you didn't already, then read this.

The Butlers had been the victims of Brown's harassment over the past year, Williams said, and at the time of his death Brown was wanted in Phelps County for second-degree burglary, first-degree trespassing, resisting arrest and violation of an ex-parte order.

"These charges all stem from complaints made by the Butlers," Williams said. "Officers from the Phelps County Sheriff's Department had attempted on several occasions to arrest Brown but could not locate him."

This had been going on for a year. He was breaking into their house on a regular basis and harrassing them.

The problems started "over a year ago" when the Butlers caught Brown "window-peeking," Butler said.

"And then it got progressively worse," Butler said, with Brown making threats, unwanted phone calls and home break-ins.

Butler said he believes Brown entered the couple's home many times and prowled around while they were out.

"My wife came home and caught him in the house on Christmas Eve," Butler said. Brown assaulted and injured Mrs. Butler at that time.

Butler said he was dissatisfied with the sheriff's department's handling of the harassment and frustrated with the deputies' inability to find Brown and arrest him on the warrants.

"I saw him every day for the last three days. You can't find anybody if you don't look for them," Butler said.

Butler said he feared that an incident would occur as it did Friday night. He said he had pleaded with deputies to find Brown "before something like this happened."

You know what's coming don't you?

Butler, the business representative for the Carpenter's Union Local No. 2298, said Brown kicked in the back door and entered the house with the firearms.

"I got shot in my bed," Butler said. "When a man knocks the door in and starts shooting you and your wife, you've got a right to shoot back."

What if he didn't have a loaded firearm close at hand? What if he had to go open his gun safe?

Williams said Brown had forced his way into the Butler home. He was armed with a .22 caliber rifle and a .22 caliber handgun, gloves and extra ammunition.

"Brown then began firing shots at Mr. and Mrs. Butler. James Butler retrieved a handgun and fired at David Brown striking him several times," Williams said.

That's the way to do it.