Standoff suspect linked to violent encounters: police
A man arrested Tuesday following an hours-long standoff with police in Forest Lawn could also face charges in connection with a serious stabbing and a number of violent, road rage-related incidents.
Police say the suspect was finally taken safely into custody Tuesday evening following a sixhour standoff that began around 11 a.m. at a home in the 4500 block of 7th Avenue S.E.
But police now say they believe the suspect, who has not yet been named, was also involved in a string of violent encounters that began earlier in the morning.
Around 9:40 a.m., a man driving a red truck in the 300 block of 36th Street N.E. “drove toward a pedestrian who was walking in a parking lot,” police said in a news release Wednesday. “The driver yelled something indiscernible at the victim and proceeded to strike him with his vehicle,” police said.
“The driver yelled something else at the pedestrian and attempted to hit him again, however the pedestrian was able to dive out of the way.”
The driver then fled the area while the victim called police.
A short time later, police say the same driver had a second violent encounter with another vehicle while travelling on Hubalta Road S.E. The two drivers pulled into a parking lot, exited their vehicles and had a brief conversation.
“The conversation quickly escalated, at which point it is believed the driver of the red truck stabbed the other driver,” police said.
The victim was able to escape to a nearby business, where staff contacted police. The victim was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition, but has since been upgraded to stable condition.
Shortly after that, police were flagged down by a passerby outside a convenience store in the 4500 block of 7th Avenue S.E. for reports that a customer had encountered an armed man in the parking lot.
The man in the convenience store encounter matched descriptions in the previous two incidents, police said. “The suspect drove away from the scene in his vehicle as police attempted to approach him,” police said.
Officers then followed the suspect to the residence in Forest Lawn, where the standoff ensued after the man refused to exit the home. The area was contained for hours while the tactical unit, canine unit and negotiators were called in to help.
The suspect was eventually arrested around 5 p.m.
He remains in custody and police said charges are pending.