Elyria man facing felony charges for early December armed standoff with police

An Elyria man who held police officers at bay during a standoff at his home in early December is facing multiple felony charges in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. Gary Coates, 66, of Salem Avenue, pleaded not guilty to charges of felonious assault on a law enforcement officer, intimidation, assault, resisting arrest, inducing panic, obstruction and misdemeanor aggravated menacing in Lorain County Common Pleas Court on Dec. 21. He was being held in the Lorain County Jail on $75,000 bond, according to jail records. Coates' attorney is expected to ask Judge Christopher Rothgery to order a competency evaluation. Coates was arrested at his home in the 900 block of Salem Avenue early on the morning of Dec. 3. No one was injured during the standoff. According to a police report, Elyria officers went to Coates' house about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 2 because Coates was walking around with a gun and had a history of mental health problems. A convicted felon, Coates isn't allowed to own guns. Officers found a shotgun resting outside the front door of the house. As they met to discuss how to approach the situation, they saw Coates pick up a rifle with an orange-tipped barrel, suggesting it was not a real firearm but a replica or a BB gun. Dispatchers and officers tried to talk to Coates both on the phone and from outside the house but he refused. He could be heard racking the slides of firearms, and refused to come outside, according to the police report. From outside the house, officers could see Coates with multiple pistols and shotguns and would wave at officers from the front door. The Elyria police Special Response Team and detectives were called to the scene. Coates threatened to shoot officers and said he would send them to "hotel hell," before shooting into the air with what they thought was a BB gun, according to the police report. Coates also aimed a blue laser at the eyes of several officers and called out the order in which he would shoot them, according to the police report. The Special Response Team fired tear gas and pepper spray into the house, but Coates still wouldn't come out. Special Response Team officers entered the house at 1:30 a.m. Dec. 3 and took Coates into custody without incident, according to the police report. He was checked by LifeCare personnel at the scene, then taken to the Lorain County Jail. Coates was convicted of assault on a law enforcement officer, a felony, as well as misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging charges in Common Pleas Court in 2020, according to court records. Judge Raymond Ewers sentenced him to one year on probation in July 2020. Ewers then immediately terminated Coates' probation and he was released, according to court records. The judge denied a request by Coates to attend Lorain County Wellness Mental Health Court, as he was no longer on probation, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.