Jackson Police arrest armed gunman

Jackson Police arrested an armed burglary suspect at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Dietrich Paul Ackerman, 24, of Jackson was arrested on felony charges of aggravated burglary and misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Police were called to the Berger Lane area in south Jackson when a person saw a man breaking into vehicles. He said the suspect had a rifle and a handgun. The suspect fired the rifle once into a hillside, then fired two shots from the handgun.

According to Lieutenant Cole Nethercott, police located the suspect and ordered him to put up his hands. The man only raised one hand and kept the other close to his waistband.

At one point,Nethercott said Ackerman turned and walked toward an officer and pulled the gun out of his waistband. He then dropped a handgun to the ground and was arrested without further incident.

Police believe Ackerman was burglarizing vehicles and specifically looking for guns. All of the stolen weapons were recovered.

Burglary becomes “aggravated” burglary when a suspect has or uses a gun in commission of the crime. It carries a penalty of 5 to 25 years in prison.