FAYETTEVILLE -- A former Lowell police officer arrested after being shot at the end of a six-hour standoff with Fayetteville police was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday on a federal drug charge.
Skylar Houston, 30, of Huntsville earlier pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine in a plea deal with prosecutors. The remaining charges were dismissed at sentencing.
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks sentenced Houston to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised probation and a fine of $2,400. Brooks ordered Houston to submit to substance abuse and mental health testing, counseling or treatment as determined by the federal probation office.
A federal indictment charged Houston and two other men with conspiring to sell methamphetamine. Houston was also charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime.
Houston was shot by Fayetteville police after officers with the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force tried to arrest him July 23, 2021, .
Detectives tried to arrest Houston in the McDonald's parking lot at 587 E. Joyce Blvd. Detectives saw him through the rear window of his vehicle put a gun to his head as they approached.
Police used a chemical irritant to force Houston out of the vehicle after about six hours. Houston was still holding a gun to his head when he got out of the vehicle and refused to comply with orders to put the gun down, according to the arrest report.