ORLANDO, Fla. _ Orlando police released more information about a 26-year-old armed suspect who they say pointed a simulated gun at himself and officers at Orlando International Airport on Tuesday night.
According to an affidavit, a Mears transportation employee said a man, later identified as Michael Wayne Pettigrew of Orlando, came up to her shortly before 7:30 p.m. to say he had a gun.
The employee asked what he needed and she said Pettigrew opened his black jacket twice, showing his gun.
She tried to call 911, but her phone didn't work so Pettigrew gave her his phone, "told her to call 911, to bring the police, and that he wanted to speak to the president," the affidavit said.
The employee called 911 and told dispatchers what Pettigrew was wearing.
Orlando police officer Jeff Angel and other officers responded. He said in the report, he saw Pettigrew assume the "shooting stance" and point what appeared to be a gun at Officer Charles Wadley.
Wadley said in the report he saw Pettigrew pointing a gun at him and raised his AR-15.
Wadley saw a "large crowd of passengers running everywhere" so he did not fire, according to the report.
Angel yelled at Pettigrew to drop the weapon, but he did not, the report said.
"Passengers at this point were running in all directions making it a little chaotic," police wrote in a report.
Pettigrew was told again to drop the gun, and he yelled at Angel to "kill me" while pointing the gun at himself, the report said.
The Crisis Intervention Team was called in, and Pettigrew was taken into custody around 10 p.m.
He was booked into the Orange County Jail on an aggravated assault on a firefighter charge, records show.
He was given a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to go in front of a judge later today.
Police characterized Pettigrew's alleged actions as a suicide by cop situation.
The standoff lasted nearly three hours, temporarily closing the airport, shutting off access and congesting surrounding roads.
No shots were fired, and no one was injured.
Pettigrew was initially taken to the hospital for a mental health exam, police said.
Airport operations are back to normal, officials said.
Police say Pettigrew served in the Marines from 2009-2012.
