Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department deputies worked a standoff Monday afternoon in the county.

During the incident, Donald “Donnie” Berghman, Jr., 47, of Carriere, fired shots at deputies when they arrived on scene in the 800 block of Henleyfield McNeill Road, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said.

Berghman’s estranged wife told officers he had been harassing her from the woods outside their house, Tucker said. 

Deputies took positions around the tree line where Berghman was hiding and entered into a three-hour standoff with Berghman, Tucker said.

Berghman’s parents arrived on scene and tried to talk him down from an apparent irrational state, Tucker said. 

Tucker said Berghman also made attempts to force the deputies to shoot him and held a gun to his head, making several threats.

Around 5 p.m. Cpl. Jason Lee was able to open communication with Berghman as he came back to his vehicle and placed two handguns on top of the truck, Tucker said. As Berghman stepped away from the vehicle he still wasn’t compliant with deputies’ commands, Tucker said.

Once Cpl. Lee was within range, he tasered Berghman, at which point deputies were able to detain him without further incident, Tucker said. Berghman was transported to Forrest General Hospital to receive psychiatric treatment and was not charged with any crime, Tucker said.