A standoff between police and a resident of Animas View Mobile Home Park in north Durango ended with a peaceful arrest around 2 p.m. Tuesday after a suspect barricaded himself into a mobile home when police attempted to serve multiple warrants.
The man is suspected of threatening a construction worker with an ax on Monday, said Deputy Chief Brice Current, with the Durango Police Department.
Officers tried to carry out a search warrant for the property, located on Animas View Drive, and an arrest warrant for attempted first-degree assault, felony menacing and theft at 9 a.m. Tuesday when the interaction turned sour.
The man, who officers described as in his 40s, threatened officers with a knife and retreated into his home.
“We were able to withdraw and just take our time and try to figure out the best possible outcome to remedy the situation,” Current said.
Over a dozen officers and mental health professionals responded to the incident and spent about five hours negotiating with the man before he agreed to surrender.
Current said the man was experiencing a mental health crisis and spoke with multiple mental health counselors at a distance throughout the standoff. He will be evaluated by professionals from Axis Health System at the La Plata County Jail.
“It took multiple attempts, a lot of patience and a lot of investment,” Current said.
He expressed gratitude to the neighbors of the mobile home park, who provided information about the man and his circumstances.
The officers’ de-escalation and handling of the situation was “textbook,” Current said.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
