On Friday, July 7, a man caught digging in a trash can outside the Cortez Salvation Army store was given a trespassing notice from officers after refusing to leave the premises and attempting to walk away from police Sgt. Brent Jarmon.
Jarmon said officers have been asked to issue trespassing notices and citations to people loitering outside the Salvation Army after hours, as the store has had problems with after-hour looters and trespassers.
As Jarmon approached the west side of the building, he noticed a man standing inside the trash bin and multiple items lying outside the bin. When Jarmon confronted the man, the man allegedly began yelling at him, saying he had been given the right to be there by “like five other officers.”
According to Jarmon’s police report, the man refused to give his name. Toward the end of the confrontation, the man revealed that his name was Andrew Higgins.
As Jarmon attempted to give Higgins a trespassing notice, Higgins began walking away. When Jarmon tried to stop him from leaving, Higgins allegedly yelled and refused to put his hands behind his back, instead holding a flashlight and revealing a pocket knife in his front right pocket.
In the report, Jarmon said Higgins yelled that he was “disabled” multiple times and said he would sue Jarmon. After officer Michael Rivas arrived, they subdued Higgins, who calmed down after Rivas pressed a stun gun on his back.
“I issued a trespass notice to Andrew and explained to him that he was not allowed on the property after hours,” Jarmon said.
“Since I am familiar with Andrew, and he has not been a constant issue at the Salvation Army, I chose not to issue a citation for trespassing or obstruction,” Jarmon stated in his report.
This article was republished July 19 to clarify that officers subdued the man after one officer pressed a stun gun into the man’s back.
