Former AZ Prison Chief Accused In Standoff With Police

TEMPE, AZ — The former head of the Arizona Department of Corrections suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand in what police characterized as a standoff with them in Tempe Thursday night, police said in a news release.

Charles Ryan was not arrested, pending hospitalization for what police said was a self-inflicted wound. He remained hospitalized under police watch on Friday, according to police. His condition was not known.

Ryan was inside his house and armed with a gun Thursday when police responded to a report of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Ryan's family left the home when police arrived, but Ryan remained inside, according to police. Family members were not harmed.

Ryan declined to speak with the police. Police said Ryan pointed a gun at officers from an open doorway inside the house. Police tried to persuade Ryan to come out of the house, but he did not, police said.

A Tempe police tactical team and negotiators eventually persuaded Ryan to come outside.

Ryan retired as the Arizona Department of Corrections director in 2019.