Brownwood News – On Tuesday, January 30th, Early Police Department officers responded to the 100 block of McDonald Drive in Early after a female reported that her boyfriend had pulled a handgun on her. The caller stated she had been in a dating relationship with a man identified as Lucus Lanier for the last 2 years and was currently trying to get out of the relationship, according to a recent press release from the police department.

 

Lanier came to the victim’s house on McDonald Drive at which time a verbal confrontation ensued and Lanier pulled a handgun out and pointed it at her and made statements that he was going to kill her. The victim and Lanier continued to argue at which time Lanier got back in his vehicle and drove away.

Early Police Department officers obtained an arrest warrant for Lanier for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Family Violence, as well as a search warrant for his residence in the 6700 block of County Road 411. Lanier was known to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office due to past calls dealing with him.  Lanier has made numerous statements that he would shoot the police or he would “commit suicide by cop.”

Lanier continuously sent text messages to the victim that he was going to kill her and that if law enforcement came out to his home he would shoot them.

The Early Police Department contacted the Abilene Police Department and requested the assistance from their SWAT team. The Early Police Department, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brownwood Police Department, Abilene Police Department SWAT, Texas Rangers, Lifeguard EMS and Air-Evac EMS and Lake Bridge Fire Department all met for the execution of the search and arrest warrant. At approximately 9 a.m. yesterday morning, Lucus Lanier was taken into custody without incident.

Lucus Lanier

Lanier was transported to the Brown County jail and booked on the Aggravated Assault charge. Officers searched the residence and located the handgun used during the assault as well as other guns he had carried with him to Early during the assault. Officers also located methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia in the residence. Lanier was also charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

“A Peaceful resolution was the ultimate goal for this mission and the cooperation between agencies brought what could have been a potentially violent situation to a peaceful end,” Early Police Chief David Mercer stated in the release.