Warning- Long post
Probably not what you had in mind since I did this for a living.
Another Officer and I received an alarm call around midnight, one year in late December. We arrived on scene and checked the perimeter of the building. Everything was secure and no vehicle or individuals there. The alarm company, which monitors for sound as well, had heard something and we were contacted and sent. This was a large pole barn type building and makes noise in wind, which was present. We advised dispatch that the building appeared secure and to contact the owner. we were advised the owner was enroute, ETA 15-20 minutes. We were waiting on the parking lot and a third officer arrived. Dispatch advised that the alarm company called back and was still hearing something, possibly on the roof.
One officer exited her vehicle and began rechecking the perimeter and the other officer and I peeled out to the street and shined our spotlights on the roof. No one was visible and the perimeter was secure, no ladders etc. The owner arrived and the officer that was assigned with me went inside to check the business, while the owner reset the alarm. I was checking the south door, when the other Officer called me to come to the middle of the store. She pointed up. About dead center of the tore was a hole and some insulation hanging down. we then heard a voice and saw a hand com through the hole. Our portable radios were very poor at the time and I had to go back outside to advise the other officer and dispatch.
Two other officers were dispatched and I went around the north end of the building, while The other Officer stayed out front. I didn’t see anyone or a way to the roof, so I took a position on the southeast corner of the building. Another officer was on the northeast, one out front and one still inside. The officer inside hollered at the subject on the roof and heard foot step headed towards the front lot. He then went back to the hole and began working again. When he stuck his head through the hole, he saw an Officer pointing a gun at him. He then ran towards the back of the building. I heard him coming and saw a pair of legs hang over the edge of the guttering. It would have been about 20 feet to the ground.
I ran up and pointing my .357 (at the time) at him, hollered common on down. He pulled his legs back up and ran up the roof. Looking and the back wall of the building in the middle, I saw some went pipes and a large water-main valve. I holstered and began to climb towards the roof. No radio meant no one was advised of what I was doing. I felt along the edge of the gutter thinking I didn’t know which would hurt worse, getting my head punted like a football or the fall to the ground. Since my finger were stepped on, I peeked over the edge and didn’t see anyone. I pulled myself onto the roof and re-drew my weapon. I moved towards the only cover on the roof, air conditioner units.
I heard him coming back my direction. He came over the roof ridge, headed toward the north end of the building. With his back to me, I hollered for him to stop. He did. I advised him to put his hands up over his head and drop down to his knees. He did. I advised him to lay down, with his arms and legs spread out. He did, except he was laying on his left hand. I advised him to slowly pull his left hand out. Nothing. I began angling towards his feet, still the only Officer on the roof. I grabbed his left arm, while placing the tip of my barrel on his temple. When I tried to pull his arm out, he rolled his bodyweight over it.
Finally another Officer figured out how to get on the roof. He provided cover, while I holstered and used both hands to pull out his arm. Several Officers had gathered on the ground on the north end of the building, which I was about 3 feet away from. When I pulled his arm, I saw the barrel of a gun. he had pulled it out of the front of his pants while moving to the prone position. I holler “Shit Frank, he’s got a gun”. I heard a shotgun rack a round in, and frank hollered back, “throw that mother-fucker off the roof, I’ll shoot him on the way down”. Instead, I struck him in the back of the head with my mag-light (no, he wasn’t busted open", but did knock him out and the pistol slid up the roof.
I hand cuffed him, then called dispatch to call out the Fire Department with a ladder truck to get the three of us off the roof. Turns out the wind kept him from hearing us. He was on the opposite side of the roof, from our spotlight check and did not know we were there. He had came to town, dropped off drugs, and was going to break in, steal some guns and head back to Michigan.