Man Claimed He Was 'Ready To Die' During 5-Hour Standoff At Steelville Residence

Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies on Tuesday were able to negotiate a standoff without any injuries at a Steelville residence.

Bradley Browning, 37, Jefferson City, was arrested after nearly five hours spent holed up with a gun that he allegedly fired towards an officer multiple times.

Franklin County’s SWAT team coaxed Browning into his surrender.

Browning was charged Wednesday with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a firearm, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Officers located the gun near the door where he eventually surrendered at, along with a glass smoking device that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Browning allegedly told officers during the standoff that he wanted to “get high” before “this goes down.”

The sheriff’s deputy who first arrived on scene at the Valley Side Road residence claimed Browning said he was “prepared to die” and the only way the day would end “is in a hail of gunfire,” according to the probable cause.

The deputy arrived on scene at 7:32 a.m. for a domestic disturbance call.

Browning was outside the home and walked inside. The deputy attempted to follow him, but encountered a chained-up pit bull, who made a charge. 

The deputy sidestepped the dog and continued on towards the trailer when he heard a gun shot.

The deputy looked up and saw a dime-sized hole with glass breakage around it. A firearm was sticking out of the trailer and pointed at the deputy, who ran for cover.

Browning began yelling at a female, who was standing on the back porch. The deputy ordered her to go back inside and try to calm down Bradley.

Browning allegedly said that if law enforcement attempted to get any closer, he would open fire.

The deputy continued his attempts to negotiate with Browning, who fired one more shot. The bullet struck the ground near his initial shot. Another shot was fired inside the trailer.

The probable cause statement said that during final stages of Browning’s negotiation, he made it obvious he knew that he would be arrested and made demands as to who would be allowed to cuff him.

Around 12:41 p.m., the Franklin County SWAT team negotiated his surrender and he was taken into custody without incident.

The reporting party, identified as Browning’s girlfriend, said he had drank too much the previous night. Browning allegedly began tearing her residence apart and fired a shot out the door during an argument.

The woman initially granted consent to a search of the property, but later denied it.

She also denied to pursue charges or cooperate with the investigation.

Browning has a lengthy criminal history going back to 2002. He pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance at a county jail in Callaway County in 2002; resisting arrest in Callaway County in 2003; resisting arrest in Vernon County in 2006; possession of a controlled substance in Cole County in 2010 and distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in Cole County in 2017.