News

A standoff in north Durango ended Tuesday afternoon after officers raided the home, taking a 20-year-old Durango man into custody.

Cmdr. Ray Shupe said police were alerted around 10:45 a.m. of a disturbance at a residence in the 2900 block of East Fourth Avenue, and learned a man wanted on suspicion of multiple burglaries was possibly inside.

The man, identified as River Anderson, allegedly got into a physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend, who he is prohibited from being around, Shupe said. Anderson was wanted on four different felony warrants.

When officers arrived, Anderson ran back into his ex-girlfriend’s house, Shupe said. Officers set up a perimeter and used a loudspeaker to convince Anderson to come outside and surrender to authorities peacefully, but he refused, Shupe said.

Police issued a Code Red alert to homes, schools and businesses in the area, informing them of the situation. Schools were temporarily on lockout, Shupe said, but that restriction was lifted shortly before 2 p.m. once police believed they had the situation “contained.”

East Fourth Avenue was closed between 29th and 31st streets.

Police were unable to have direct communication with Anderson, Shupe said. But it appears Anderson called emergency dispatch saying he was on Smelter Mountain and wanted to turn himself in.

“That was a ruse to get us away from the house,” Shupe said.

Authorities knew Anderson’s ex-girlfriend had a gun in the house, and they were concerned he armed himself. Shupe said the police department does not talk specific tactics, but officers were able to storm the house using chemical agents and take Anderson into custody without incident.

No one was injured, Shupe said, and the scene was cleared around 5 p.m.

Shupe said Anderson will likely face new charges because of the standoff, but he did not immediately have that information.

In January, Anderson was sentenced to a year of probation and 40 hours of community service after drawing a swastika on a construction project in Three Springs, as well as vandalizing other homes.

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