Domestic disturbance escalates into standoff

ST. GEORGE – Police arrested a man after a domestic disturbance escalated into a standoff that prompted a SWAT team response early Sunday.

St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said police responded to a domestic violence incident in the area of 200 South and 100 East around 2 a.m., Sunday, that allegedly involved 44-year-old Juan Guajardo, of St. George, 

Guajardo refused to speak with officers when they arrived on the scene and went into his home and refused to come out.

Sometime during the incident, Despain said Gaujardo made comments that made the officers concerned for their safety and gave the impression he may have access to a weapon. This prompted the officers to contact the SWAT team and a negotiator.

Despain said three children were inside the home with Guajardo who he allegedly did not allow to leave during the incident.

After nearly two hours inside, Guajardo gave up and was taken into police custody. He did not have a weapon on him, Despain said. The children within the home were unharmed and uninjured.

Guajardo was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility and charged with one second-degree felony count of aggravated assault, three counts of third-degree felony counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, and various class B misdemeanors related to domestic violence, unlawful detention and interfering with an arrest. Bail currently stands at $25,000

Despain added that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the incident. The incident lasted for about three hours, he said.

Ed. Note:  Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

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