On January 21st, 2012 at approximately 5:35 p.m., Dubuque Police located an individual wanted on five outstanding arrest warrants at 351 Kaufmann Ave.
On January 21st, 2012 at approximately 5:35 p.m., Dubuque Police located an individual wanted on five outstanding arrest warrants at 351 Kaufmann Ave. An officer went to the front door of the residence and the wanted subject attempted to flee out the back door where another Dubuque Police officer was posted. The wanted subject then returned back into the residence and refused to surrender.
The residence was secured by officers and a search warrant was applied for that would allow officers to enter the residence in an attempt to locate the wanted subject. Prior to attempting to execute the search warrant, negotiators with the Dubuque Police Department were summoned to the scene in an attempt to make contact with the subject and convince him to surrender to police. Attempts to establish contact with the subject lasted for nearly four hours but were unsuccessful.
As the result of intelligence indicating the subject might have access to weapons, the Dubuque Police Department’s Tactical Entry Team was utilized and after the failed negotiation attempts, deployed tear gas in the residence at approximately 11:50 p.m.
The tear gas deployment did not facilitate the subject’s surrender and at approximately 12:46 a.m. the Tactical Team made entry to the residence to search for and attempt to arrest the subject. Members of the Tactical Team located the subject inside the residence, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The subject was identified as Blaine L. Wright, 02/21/1989, of Dubuque. He was wanted as an escapee from the Elm Street Correctional Facility, and also had four probation violation warrants.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting the investigation into Wright’s death. Questions regarding that investigation should be referred to the Iowa DCI. The Dubuque Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Dubuque Fire Department and the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department.