Police: Standoff ended peacefully

Santa Fe police say they evacuated some apartment buildings in the Villas de San Ignacio complex on Zafarano Drive for about an hour and a half Friday because a man with a weapon had been threatening to harm himself inside his apartment.

Residents in other areas of the complex were asked to shelter in place during the incident, which began around 11 a.m., according to Santa Fe Police Department Lt. Sean Strahon.

According to a news release sent after the incident, the man, 64, has medical issues, and police have been called to his home repeatedly in the past month. During the confrontation Friday, he fired one shot inside his home, at a wall in the direction of officers, the release says.

The incident ended peacefully just after 12:30 p.m., with negotiators convincing the man to put his weapon down and then taking him to a local hospital for services, Strahon said.

It took a few calls, the lieutenant said, but negotiators were able to develop a rapport with the man and work with him on creating an exit plan, “so he felt like he had some control over the situation,” asking things like, “What would it take to help you to come out?”

The strategy, Strahon said, was to help make the man feel comfortable with negotiators and feel respected by them.

The news release said officers found a rifle and a handgun inside the man’s apartment, and possible charges against him are pending.