BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho (AP) — A man who fired shots at the mayor and a sheriff’s deputy was taken into custody Thursday evening after an eight-hour standoff, authorities said.
According to a press release, the incident began around 11 a.m. when Mayor Lonnie Gunter and a Bannock County deputy went to the man’s home on High Street to address a city ordinance issue, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office reported. The man opened fire, striking the mayor’s vehicle, but no one was injured.
A SWAT team quickly surrounded the residence while deputies evacuated nearby homes and closed off streets. The Sheriff’s Office deployed an armored vehicle to the scene as negotiators tried to make contact with the man.
Initially, the gunman spoke with police by phone but stopped communicating around 3:45 p.m., according to authorities. He was seen in a doorway of the home around 6 p.m. before SWAT officers moved in and apprehended him inside around 7 p.m.
Authorities said no shots were fired by law enforcement during the standoff and the man was not injured. His name was not immediately released.
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a hose the man had placed across High Street. The sheriff’s office said the man had previous ordinance violations with the city.
An arrest warrant was issued for the man during the standoff for shooting at the mayor and deputy. He was booked into the Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.
Authorities said more information about the charges would be released Friday. After the standoff ended, evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes and roads were reopened.