SENTENCED: Cudahy man who pleaded guilty in connection with standoff will serve time in prison

MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- A Cudahy man pleaded guilty in connection with a standoff that occurred back in April of 2014, and now, he's been sentenced.

Steven Cynova



35-year-old Steven Cynova pleaded guilty to amended charges including: second degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, and failure to comply with an officer's attempt to take a person into custody.

On the second degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon charge, Cynova was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 24 months of extended supervision -- with credit for 14 days served.

On the failure to comply with an officer's attempt to take a person into custody charge, Cynova was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 24 months of extended supervision -- with credit for 14 days served.

These sentences are to be served concurrently, so in all, Cynova will serve 30 months in prison and 30 months of extended supervision.

Cynova has an open case out of Milwaukee County filed in May of 2014 in which he's charged with four misdemeanors: OWI (third offense), operating with a prohibited alcohol content (third offense), resisting or obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct. He has pleaded guilty to the OWI charge, and all other charges were dismissed.

According to the criminal complaint filed against him in connection with the standoff, Cynova was reportedly intoxicated, and video-chatting with a Kentucky man, when he displayed a shotgun and began to load the shotgun while threatening to commit suicide.

Cudahy police arrived shortly before noon and set up a perimeter.

Officials learned Cynova was continually threatening to commit suicide and his aggression escalated when he learned the police were involved and present at his home, according to the complaint.

The complaint says around 12:30 p.m., Cynova discharged a shotgun inside his home.

Cudahy police requested assistance from other agencies, roads were shut down and the South Shore Joint Tactical unit arrived at the scene.

Around 12:38 p.m., Cynova briefly exited the front door of his home holding an iPad, and he appeared to be video recording perimeter officers. A police officer tried to encourage him to come out — but Cynova yelled an expletive and went back inside.

Around 12:41 p.m., officers learned Cynova’s demeanor had escalated and he reported to the individual with whom he was video-chatting that he intended to “go out in a blaze of glory.”

Police say he exited his home and fired a round over the homes located on the east side of the street — before going back inside.

Just before 1:00 p.m., another round was fired from the front door. Around 1:08 p.m., another round was fired from the second story balcony. Another round was discharged around 1:12 p.m.

Shots Cynova fired entered a nearby home, where three residents were at home, but were unharmed.

Around 1:15 p.m., Cynova opened the front door and directed the barrel of his shotgun towards a residence on S. Disch Ave. -- where officers were positioned to monitor Cynova — and they believed Cynova was going to discharge the firearm at them.

According to the complaint, an officer fired at Cynova, striking him in the left arm.

Around 1:48 p.m., Cynova came out of his home and appeared dazed/weakened. Cynova disregarded multiple commands to show officers his hands — before going back inside the home, police say.

Officers discharged pepper spray and Cynova was taken into custody just after 4:30 p.m.

Police spoke with Cynova, who said he had returned home from working third shift and had started drinking. He said he began video-chatting with a friend, and said he wanted to show off the shotgun his wife owned. He said he took the gun out of the closet, removed it from its case and went to multiple places to get ammunition because he was suicidal and wanted to be taken seriously.

Cynova admitted to putting the shotgun into his mouth on one occasion, and police say Cynova was angry that his friend contacted police.

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