News

Polk officials ID armed suspect who killed himself

By Bill Moss, Published: January 13, 2019

A standoff with deputies inside a secured area at the sheriff's office Columbus lasted several hours before the suspect turned the gun on himself, the Polk County sheriff's office said.

Polk County deputies responded to a call for service early Sunday off Big Level Road. Deputies arrested Camden Owen McWhirter, 33, of Cleveland County, for suspicion of driving while impaired. Deputies transported McWhirter to the Polk County Detention Center and upon entering the secured lot McWhirter revealed he had a weapon. The Polk County sheriff's office called for assistance from the SBI, Cleveland and Henderson county sheriff’s offices, Columbus Police Department and Tryon Police Department. After several hours of negotiations and attempts to resolve the incident with no loss of life, McWhirter took his own life. The SBI is conducting an independent investigation of the incident.