Two Arrested After Barricade Incident in Orleans Involving Armed Suspect

A March 10 incident in Orleans resulted in the arrests of two individuals by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. The men were cited to be in Orleans Superior Court the next day, March 11, on warrants. The controversy began when, on March 10, in the village of Orleans, an Orleans County sheriff’s deputy assisted an elderly man who was trying to flag down vehicles in the middle of Willoughby Avenue. He told the deputy that Jason Willey, 41, homeless, was in the elderly man’s house and wanted him gone. Deputy Cota called for Deputy Locke and gave the man a ride to his apartment on Church Street. While on their way, it was confirmed that Willey had an active state warrant and was considered armed and dangerous. When they arrived, the man let both deputies into his house. Upon entering, the deputies saw two females passed out on the couches in the living room and Willey in the hallway. Willey was told to put his hands behind his back but instead, he allegedly ran and locked himself in the bathroom and told the deputies he had a weapon. The deputies called for backup, and officers from the Newport Police Department and the State Police arrived shortly afterward. The females were awakened and led from the residence. One was identified as Taylor Coull, 23, who was homeless and had two active state warrants. Coull was taken into custody. Police eventually negotiated Willey out of the barricaded room peacefully without further incident, and he was taken into custody. Both parties were transported to the Northern State Correctional Facility pending their court dates the next day.