A gunman has been charged with firing multiple shots — endangering nearby residents — and falsely reporting he killed his mother, which led to a two-hour standoff with a SWAT team response in McHenry Friday.
Michael T. Cartier, 40, of McHenry, was charged with possession of a firearm while being ineligible, reckless discharge of a firearm, false report of an offense and illegal possession of ammunition.
The McHenry Police Department responded around 4:15 p.m. Friday to the 3200 block of Hunter Path in McHenry for a report of a disturbance and possible shots fired.
The police department received an additional call from Cartier, who wanted police to respond to the home because he had fired a handgun into the air, police said.
Cartier also reported that his mother had been killed, police officials said.
Cartier was inside his residence and refused to exit when law enforcement arrived.
The McHenry Police Department, assisted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and other police agencies, established a perimeter around the house.
Information received indicated there were possibly additional armed subjects in the residence, which was later determined to be false, police officials said.
The McHenry Police Department requested the assistance of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team (EST).
NIPAS is a joint venture of suburban municipal police agencies to provide mutual aid during dangerous situations.
The McHenry Police Department has been a long-time member of NIPAS.
A preliminary investigation determined that Cartier may have been suffering from a mental health crisis, police officials said.
Officers were unable to determine if there were any other occupants in the residence or if medical services were needed.
A two-hour standoff ensued before Cartier voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.
Cartier was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry for treatment.
Police said a handgun was collected at the scene and placed into evidence.
McHenry Deputy Police Chief Thomas Walsh said it turned out that no one had been shot and no one else besides the man was inside the residence.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Cartier possessed a Springfield Hellcat handgun after having previously been denied the issuance of a Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
The complaint said Cartier endangered the safety of numerous people when he fired the gun several times.
Cartier fired several shots from the handgun into the floor of his home, “indiscriminately into the air” and towards an electrical transformer, the complaint said.
The complaint said the home is in a populated residential neighborhood surrounded by occupied, single-family homes.
The complaint also said a resident reported to police that they heard the bullets traveling through branches overhead.
The McHenry Police Department thanked the community for its patience during the incident.
“While the heavy police presence may be alarming to some, it is to ensure the safety of the community and the responding officers.”
An arrest warrant was obtained for Cartier charging him with the felonies and it remains active, presumably due to him being hospitalized.
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Division of the McHenry Police Department at 815-363-2599.
Those wishing to pass along anonymous information are encouraged to call the McHenry Police Tip Line at 815-363-2124. All calls made to the tip line are anonymous.