FARMINGTON – The Farmington Police Department arrested a man after neighbors reported he was firing a gun in his yard and struck a neighbor’s home Sunday on the east side of town.
The incident occurred about 1:35 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the police department. When officers arrived, the man suspected of firing the shots was no longer outside, so officers used an intercom speaker to communicate with him. The man, who was later identified as Taron Yazzie, 32, came outside on his front porch and spoke to officers for a short time before going back into his house, according to the release.
“To de-escalate the situation, officers backed away from the home,” the release said.
After the officers backed away, another neighbor reported finding a bullet hole through a side door and a pantry door inside the home. Other neighbors then reported Yazzie was outside his house again firing a gun and yelling.
“As the SWAT and negotiations teams responded, officers established a perimeter and directed people in homes nearby to shelter in place,” according to the release. “After some negotiations, Yazzie was taken into custody without incident.”
Yazzie is being held on suspicion of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied building with no injury; negligent use of a deadly weapon (specifically discharging a firearm near a dwelling); and criminal damage to property of less than $1,000.
“This was a good example of our officers working hard to de-escalate a critical situation,” Farmington Police Chief Steve Heebe said in the release. “Time and distance matter in these situations. We’re very pleased this was resolved peacefully, and I’m very proud of the officers on scene.”
mmitchell@durangoherald.com