ST. GEORGE – A St. George man was taken into custody by police late Tuesday morning after an 11-hour standoff that started shortly after midnight.
UPDATED 5:15 p.m. The man involved in the standoff has been identified as Guy Fotheringham, according to a statement from the St. George Police Department.
The events leading up to the standoff between police and Fotheringham began with an altercation between Fotheringham and a neighbor, during which Fotheringham “illegally entered or remained on the neighbors property and broke property belonging to the neighbor,” according to the statement.
After Fotheringham returned to his own property, a domestic dispute broke out between him and a woman identified in the statement as a “cohabitant.” During this dispute, Fotheringham retrieved firearms and began discharging them, according to the statement. It is believed two firearms were used – an AR-15 and a .32-caliber pistol. Police estimate between eight and 10 rounds, and possibly more, were fired during the incident.
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Videocast by Melissa Anderson, KCSG and St. George News
Fotheringham will be booked on charges of criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, domestic violence criminal mischief, domestic violence threats, unlawful discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
Police blocked access to the Hillside Palms RV and Mobile Home Park on 600 East, north of St. George Boulevard, Tuesday morning as they worked to get a presently unnamed suspect out of a trailer home. The standoff was triggered by a 911 call alerting police that several shots had been fired inside a residence at approximately 12:30 a.m.
About 20 residents in the vicinity of the suspect’s trailer, along with guests staying at the Coronada Inn and Suites hotel, were evacuated, and police sent in a crisis negotiator and tactical teams to contain the area. As part of the containment, St. George Boulevard was shut down between 400 East and 700 East, though it eventually reopened after 6 a.m. The Red Cross was also on scene to aid the evacuees.
There had been some reports circulating that the suspect left his trailer in the early morning and was wandering St. George Boulevard with a gun and that a manhunt was underway. St. George Police Captain Mike Giles said that was untrue.
“He was in the trailer from start to finish,” Giles said during a press conference following the incident. “He didn’t come out until just now when he surrendered to the officers.”
Early on in the incident, the suspect’s wife was in the trailer with him, but he let the police take her away from the trailer, St. George Vet Center Readjustment Counselor Bruce Solomon said. Police called in Solomon when they learned more of the suspect’s background, he said. Solomon helps fellow veterans deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues. He has also been instrumental in the establishment of a Veterans Judicial Initiative in Washington County this year that is aimed at assisting veterans facing legal issues.
St. George Police set up an incident command center in the parking lot of the Sunburst Shopping Center on 700 East and Tabernacle while the standoff unfolded.
Access to 600 East north of St. George Boulevard, as well as Rite Aid and Perks!, was blocked as the standoff commenced. The businesses remained closed until the situation was resolved.
“We always have crazy stuff that happens here all the time,” said Tessa Brown, a supervisor/manager at RiteAid, who was waiting for the situation to clear so she and others could go to work.
Earlier this year, there was a standoff between St. George Police and a man staying at the Coronada Inn and Suites that was triggered by a noise complaint. In 2012, police were also involved in a highly visible drug bust in the same area.
Brown also said she was familiar with the suspect involved, as a family member of his is a regular costumer at Rite Aid. She said the man is former military and had been going through a rough time the last few months.
“He served in the U.S. Army and Air Force,” Solomon said.
According to Veterans Affairs records, Solomon said, the man is 59 years old.
“He is experiencing distress and, right now, he claims PTSD, and we’re checking all that out,” Solomon said. “He said he stopped taking his medication and began to self-medicate with alcohol.”
Solomon said he was grateful to the police for contacting him once they learned the man may be a veteran with PTSD.
As the incident progressed, Giles said, police attempted to communicate verbally with the suspect yet received no reply from inside the trailer for a period of time. Pepper spray was also introduced as an alternative to the subject’s nonresponsiveness.
During parts of the standoff, a female police officer attempted to communicate with the suspect via a bullhorn.
Solomon praised how the negotiator on the bullhorn dealt with the suspect.
“She was just wonderful with him and absolutely committed,” he said.
However, as no response was received from the man, police turned to a different tactic to ensure someone was still in the trailer.
“That received no response, as well, so after awhile of trying to do that we introduced additional rounds of the pepper spray in a powdered form,” Giles said.
The SWAT team on scene fired at least four rounds of powdered pepper spray into the trailer between 11 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. Shortly after that, the SWAT team began approaching the trailer.
The suspect, a white adult male, exited the trailer with hands up. He was surrounded by SWAT officers and subsequently taken into custody without further incident at approximately 11:25 a.m.
The suspect was the only one in the trailer. No one was injured during the course of the standoff, Giles said.
“We’re very pleased with how this turned out,” Giles said. “It’s been a long morning for the officers involved … Everybody’s going home, everybody’s safe. He’s going to get some medical treatment and be evaluated, and I don’t see it happening any better than it has. This is a good resolution.”
Solomon said he was also happy with how the police handled the situation.
“Officers treated (the suspect) with utmost gentleness when he came out,” Solomon said. “He was very gently treated, with bracelets, and then, as they promised him, I was immediately given access to him as soon as he was handcuffed.”
As an investigation is currently underway, Giles deferred providing detailed information regarding the suspect. Additional information will be released as the investigation progresses, he said.
The St. George Police Department was the primary agency involved in the incident, with a crew from the Utah Department of Transportation providing traffic barricades during the standoff.
St. George News Editor-in-Chief Joyce Kuzmanic and Assistant Editor Cami Cox Jim contributed to this story.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
The scene of the incident, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
SWAT team posted at the scene, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
SWAT team posted at the scene, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
An officer standing watch at 600 East, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
Guy Fotheringham being escorted by police following his arrest, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
The suspect being escorted by police, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
The suspect (gray shirt by the bushes) after surrendering to police. Bruce Solomon can be seen in the jacket with the gray and red stripes, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
The suspect (gray shirt by the bushes) after surrendering to police. Bruce Solomon can be seen in the jacket with the gray and red stripes, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
The suspect being escorted by police, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
The police investigation into the standoff begins following the suspect's surrender, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
SWAT truck and officers involved in the 600 East standoff, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
SWAT truck and officers involved in the 600 East standoff, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
Related posts
- News LIVE: Police standoff downtown; unfolding incident; updating 11:35 a.m., following
- Noise complaint leads to SWAT standoff at hotel
- Veterans, spouses, community learn about living with PTSD; ‘it’s a journey’
- Veterans Aware: Managing PTSD; ‘The Invisible War,’ documentary on military sexual trauma
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Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.
What was he shooting at inside the trailer?
He probably thought Obama was right outside his trailer trying to trick him into giving up his guns…
Good job to the PD folks! Anytime something like this is resolved without a death or injury, somebody did a good job.
Let’s have a dance and put in a roundabout
I agree with you Evil Twin. I am glad they resolved it and didn’t kill the man. This is the way it should end. I am also glad they got the veteran’s councilor involved.
This needs to happen more often in situations like this.
So glad to hear this outcome on what could have been a sad ending. Good job St George PD and everyone else involved
Another future St George city council member
Praise the NRA for standing up for this man’s constitutional right to collect weapons. I think we can all agree we are a little safer for it.
Great research on this item. The perp is a category II person with a record. NRA has never asked for gun rights for category II persons. If anything the NRA has asked for stricter gun laws on such persons. Please get informed and try to have at least some basic information on what you post about. NRA is for the gun rights of those who are responsible. The NRA have never done anything to ensure those that have proven themselves irresponsible.
My problem with NRA’s, and your, line of reasoning KEV is that every gun owner considers himself responsible. Likewise, nutcases and criminals act sane and rational most of the time and often fly under the radar of family, friends and law enforcement. In the movies we know who the bad guy is; not so much in real life.
Thank you so much for those who had the clarity to access the underlying problem to find an alternative and not just react to the situation. So happy everyone is safe and what a happy ending!
Ditto
Are we as tax payers going to have to fit the bill every time ZONKERBs parents get into a fight. GO FALCONS!
Hey I see your dad came out of the trailer
My Dad was 84 when he died 10 years ago.
^DALTON^
Zonkerb has parents?
Not possible. Zonkerb never had any parents.
I commend my Uncle Bruce for his intervention in this Veteran’s behalf. Bruce has dedicated his life to blessing the lives of his fellow service men. In doing this, his wounds are made whole! Thank you Uncle Bruce and blessings to Mr. Fotheringham in his healing.
How many bullets did that bank kidnapper take to the head and body?
The best possible ending to a horrible scenario. I hope Mr. Fotheringham gets the help he needs and the other victims are taken care of as well.
Funny thing is that many of those commending the cops for not riddling him with bullets are probably supporters of the Bundy types, those who support shooting cops.
I’m happy and surprised that the cops treated this man “gently” and didn’t slam him to the ground and grind his face into the pavement. He is lucky.
Good thing there wasn’t an illegal dance party going on somewhere else
-Shameless plug for Empire Waste Services **They will take out the trash**