Cedar Park Standoff Suspect, Injured Officers Identified

CEDAR PARK, TX — The Cedar Park Police Department on Monday identified the suspect in an hours-long standoff this weekend resulting in three officers being shot, all of whose names also were released.

The incident occurred at around 3:10 p.m. when officers were dispatched to a home at 2304 Natalie Cove after a woman called police to report her son had kicked in the door while acting aggressively.

Arriving officers entered the home before being caught in gunfire, prompting them to return fire as they exited the house, police said in an advisory. All told, police said, more than 50 rounds were fired — a volley dramatically illustrated by photos of a bullet-ridden patrol vehicle provided by the Cedar Park Police Department.

Previous coverage: Cedar Park Hostage Situation Ends; 1 Officer Remains Hospitalized

The suspect, identified as Joseph DeSean Taylor, 26, barricaded himself in the home while taking three family members hostage, the police department said in its advisory. The injured officers, meanwhile, were rushed to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The Cedar Park Police Department released photos of a bullet-ridden patrol car dramatically illustrating the volley of 50-plus round exchanged during a standoff on Sunday.

The three injured officers were identified as Jacqueline Quiles, on the local police force for four years; Cris Hester, a 10-year veteran with the police department; and Nik Anderson, an officer at the Cedar Park Police Department for eight years. Two of the offices have since been released from the hospital while the third underwent surgery and remains in stable condition. The police department did not provide the medical status of either officer.

After more than 16 hours of negotiation, police said Taylor emerged from the home without further incident. He was transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation pending transport to the Williamson County Jail, police said. He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a public servant and three counts of aggravated kidnapping, police said.

According to Williamson County Jail records, Taylor was charged with strangulation of a family member before being booked into the detention facility on Sept. 6, 2019. The assault on the 15-year-old family member in a dispute over money was later dropped for insufficient evidence, CBS Austin reported.

Joseph DeSean Taylor previously was accused of strangling a family member in a dispute over money, a charge for which this booking photo was taken in September 2019. Image via Williamson County Jail records.

The Texas Rangers have taken the lead investigative role in conjunction with the Cedar Park Criminal Investigations Division, according to the police department. An internal investigation also was launched after the three involved officers were placed on paid administrative leave.

Among the other agencies involved at the scene were the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and the Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander and Liberty Hill police departments, according to the advisory. Also assisting, police said, were Cedar Park Emergency Management; St. David's Round Rock Medical Center; Central Texas Regional SWAT to include Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown and Pflugerville; Round Rock SWAT; U.S. Marshal's Lone Star Fugitive Task Force; Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Cedar Park Dispatch Communications Center; Leander dispatch; and Williamson County Emergency Communications.

A pair of nascent fundraisers have been launched on GoFundMe, each designed to collect money to help the injured officers with medical costs and related expenses. One titled the Cedar Park Police Officers Fund had raised $1,325 of a $3,000 goal from among 18 donors as of Monday evening. The other fundraiser, called the Cedar Park Heroes Recovery Fund, had raised $765 of a $30,000 goal from among 13 donors at last check.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued words of comfort for the injured officers: "Our hearts are with the police officers who were injured while protecting the Cedar Park community this afternoon," he said in a prepared statement. "We must never take for granted the service and sacrifice of our law enforcement officers, and the State of Texas stands ready to provide the support and resources needed to bring justice to those involved. I ask that all Texans join Cecilia and me in prayer for the these officers, and for the safety of all law enforcement officers across the state."

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