News LIVE: Police standoff downtown; unfolding incident; updating 11:35 a.m., following

SWAT regroup just after about 11 a.m. outside residential property in the area of 500 E. and St. George Boulevard where shots were fired and suspect is holed up. Note no SWAT outside on the street - photo taken about 11 a.m. St. George, Utah, at about 9:30 a.m. Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler

NEWS LIVE: This report contains news live as it develops and is being  updated continuously. Bookmark and refresh the page periodically for updates. UPDATED 9:45 a.m. – photo of street where incident is taking place, taken at 9:30 a.m. note SWAT is no longer out on the street.  UPDATED 10:05 a.m. with comment from Rite Aid supervisor (noted in bold burnt red). UPDATED 10:45 a.m. see updates in burnt read as of 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and 10:48 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. and 10:56 a.m. see section “Unfolding incident – updates” – last update 11:35 a.m. photos added.

Our full update with post-incident police spokesman interview will follow separately.

ST. GEORGE – At 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, the St. George Communications Center received a report of shots being fired in a residential area of downtown St. George, near 500 East and St. George Boulevard. The subject firing the gun is contained within a residence, a statement released by St. George Police just before 6:30 a.m. states.

As of about 7:15 a.m., St. George Police Capt. Mike Giles said that no shots had been fired for a couple hours and there had been no response from inside the residence, a residential trailer, where the subject is holed up.

“At this point, no injuries have been reported,” Giles said in his 7:15 a.m. media conference.

Police had no details on the individual involved to report at 7:15 a.m., but Giles said the Department’s researchers are trying to figure out what they can about the person.

“He’s in the home,” Giles said. “He hasn’t responded to our presence or our attempts to communicate with him.”

Command staff will determine what the safest and most appropriate course of action will be to resolve the situation, Giles said.

Unfolding incident – updates

At about 10 a.m.  a woman who appears to be an officer has been at the scene with a bullhorn, apparently attempting to communicate with the subject.

At 10:45 a.m. what sounds like shouting can be heard from the scene; by 10:48 a.m. shouting has subsided. At 10:50 a.m. shouting and what sounds like use of the bullhorn has resumed.

At 10:56 a.m. SWAT appears to have just drawn nearer the scene; two loud bangs could be heard, although note: It is unclear if those were perhaps tear gas or something else creating the bangs.

At 10:58 a.m. and 11 a.m. SWAT appears to have returned to their truck; something was fired into the residence and there is more shouting that can be heard from the bullhorn.

At about 11:12 a.m. the suspect is out of the trailer and on the ground surrounded by SWAT.

At about 11:10 a.m. another loud bang from SWAT is heard and the lady on the bullhorn can be heard telling the subject to come out. Suspect appears to be an older male.

At about 11:15 a.m. the suspect is taken into custody.

At about 11:20 a.m. St. George Police posted the following update regarding the situation:

The situation at 600 East Boulevard has been resolved. Negotiations with the subject ended with lack of further responses from the subject. O.C. Powder was injected into the trailer. Shorty after the introduction of the pepper spray powder the subject peacefully exited the residence and surrendered to officers. Detectives from the St. George Police Department will be conducting a follow up investigation.

At 11:35 a.m. St. George Police clarified that O.C. powder is is pepper spray in a powdered form. On scene, police advised that some of the area residents that had been evacuated are being allowed to return home.

More background

St. George Police Department command staff, SWAT team and crisis negotiators, as well as support from St. George Fire Department, are among those responding to the incident.

Police media point at Sunburst Shopping Center, 700 E. and Tabernacle in relation to standoff at residential property in the area of 500 E. and St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler
Police media point at Sunburst Shopping Center, 700 E. and Tabernacle in relation to standoff at residential property in the area of 500 E. and St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah, Dec. 2, 2014 | Photo by Mori Kessler

St. George Boulevard was closed between 400 and 700 East for a few hours while the situation was stabilized. It has since been opened.

Rite-Aid, Perks! and the parking area associated with those businesses are closed at this time. The areas remaining closed off  are just because they could be in the line of fire if the subject came out, Giles said.

At about 10 a.m. Rite Aid supervisor / manager Tessa Brown said,  “We always have crazy stuff happen here,” and said that workers are unable to come to work, Tuesday, due to the standoff. 

Voluntary evacuation has taken place for about 20 residents from the block on which the incident is occurring, Giles said, including one hotel or motel.  At 8 a.m. people are walking around the Sand Motel at 581 E. St. George Blvd. depicted in photos attached to this report.

The Red Cross has opened up a support center for the evacuees, helping out with services, supplies and shelter, Giles said.

This is a developing story. 

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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45 Comments

  • yep December 2, 2014 at 7:31 am

    I like you more and more stgnews.
    I read all my news on my phone. I don’t get a pop up notification for something like this but I get one for two kids falling off a four wheeler?

    ….. and as I am about to hit submit the notification comes through. I take it all back. Thank you stgnews. You’re getting better and more useful every day.

    • brettybret December 2, 2014 at 8:03 am

      I’m with you! The twitter feed is Great!

  • Koolaid December 2, 2014 at 7:32 am

    Send in Obama to take his guns

    • David December 2, 2014 at 8:34 am

      Stop reading all the propaganda.

    • not you me December 2, 2014 at 11:42 am

      I agree with you Koolaid. Just another reason for Obama to try…

  • yep December 2, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Yes! Do it Koolaid! Brettybret you call Henry Kissinger. I will call the Ghost Busters

    • Koolaid December 2, 2014 at 9:07 am

      Call in the St George Dance Buster squad, too, just in case there was illicit dancing involved.

      • Manuel labor December 3, 2014 at 6:51 pm

        I think after the whole Fiesta Fun dance incident, that SGPD needs to come back with a big dance routine. Maybe with the choreography of the Michael Jackson music video ” they don’t really care about us”. With the music playing!

      • Manuel labor December 3, 2014 at 7:08 pm

        More info on my post, right below. It was misplaced.

  • Nancy December 2, 2014 at 8:50 am

    I love St George News. Thank you for so quickly keeping us up to date on local events.

    I have a question, though. The newest “updated at 8:40” seems to be exactly the same as the one I read earlier. Would it be possible to put the updates in a different color or highlighted? I refreshed my page and that didn’t make a difference either. Is there a something different I need to do?

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic December 2, 2014 at 9:12 am

      I think that’s a great suggestion – the updates thus far (through the 8 a.m. hour) have been largely tightening up and augmenting our early reports upon obtaining interview with the police captain. When we have a significant update, we’ll update the headline as well.
      Thank you, Nancy
      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

      • Nancy December 2, 2014 at 12:26 pm

        Thanks, it looks great!

  • Sherry M. December 2, 2014 at 8:53 am

    stgnews is perfect for a small budding community like Washington County. keep it up. Also I didn’t see No Filter last week, I thought they were weekly? I just wonder what is coming next? With shootings and accidents it brings a nice balance.

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic December 2, 2014 at 9:17 am

      It brings us gladness to hear you’re enjoying “The No Filter Show,” Sherry. We published the last one before, during and at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend as it was a delightful spin about town with Mayor Jon Pike and the No Filter boys on Segways and deserved to be seen by those who had gone away for the weekend. We’ve got more No Filter shows coming – watch for them?
      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

  • KOOLAID, December 2, 2014 at 9:01 am

    Obama had all ready take my mother with his gun. I be so glade forb myba hertitago.

  • KOONAIDS December 2, 2014 at 9:07 am

    So happy someone is shooting at each other, I thought all us new movies had turned this town into a town … All the news has been lately is stupid people that can’t hike with out getting lost, bike riders dumb enough to ride in the street, old folks adjusting their diapers and wrecking their cars, or Hanna bandedo wanting to dance. …
    Ed. ellipses.

  • concerned December 2, 2014 at 9:11 am

    does anyone know who the shooter is?

  • matt December 2, 2014 at 9:29 am

    This standoff is bologna…i was supposed to be to work at 6 a.m. But been locked in since around 5…the police need to learn how to deal with this…some tweeker hold up in a camper and the police force can’t handle it in almost 5 hours…if I lose my job due to st George police incompetence in gonna raise hell. pathetic “police”

    • NoMoreQQ December 2, 2014 at 10:06 am

      That “tweaker” has the same and equal rights that you have. Your intolerance of others is showing. You should appreciate that police are respecting him the same way they do everyone else.

    • Joanna December 2, 2014 at 2:02 pm

      Thanks for the heads up Matt! We’ll get someone else to cover the drive thru for you til you get here, and somehow the world will manage to move on.

  • matt December 2, 2014 at 9:32 am

    This standoff is bologna…i was supposed to be to work at 6 a.m. But been locked in since around 5…the police need to learn how to deal with this…some tweeker hold up in a camper and the police force can’t handle it in almost 5 hours…if I lose my job due to st George police incompetence in gonna raise…well we all know …pathetic “police”

    • TheMaskedPotato December 2, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Matt… what up homie. How did u get Wifi in yo trailer. Mine has been block for the last 5 hours…. Phone busted too…. I supposed to check in with my PO this morning. Aint gonna happen. He gonna be pissed. Guess these pigs gonna have to take me in too…

      • ladybugavenger December 2, 2014 at 11:37 am

        Now, get to your PO!

    • ladybugavenger December 2, 2014 at 11:37 am

      Get to work!

  • Zonkerb December 2, 2014 at 9:32 am

    I’m just hoping nobody ends up getting shot from a stray bullet. Okay SGPD let’s bring this to a calm peaceful ending with no one getting hurt….

  • ladybugavenger December 2, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Oh snap, I woke up to some news. No shots fired in hours, not responding to police, is the person dead?

  • diane December 2, 2014 at 10:18 am

    If SWAT is no longer on the street I am guessing they are inside.

  • Kingofpain December 2, 2014 at 10:38 am

    Call up a drone to do a fly over, no heat signature = DEAD.. Or better yet SGPD has a bomb robot (that no one knows how to operate) send it in with a bomb in tow, DIFFUSE the situation.. LMAO !

    • Koolaid December 2, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Act like Bundy and push some women and children to the front line to see if they get shot at.

  • Steve December 2, 2014 at 10:54 am

    If no shots were fired for the last few hours, I’m guessing the idiot shot himself. So sad to see certain kinds of criminal elements increasing in number in our peaceful community. Let’s not put up with such people, people! Report crimes to the police, and do everything to encourage such people to move away. We don’t need to welcome everyone in Utah’s Dixie.

  • Wilbur December 2, 2014 at 11:06 am

    as always, it’s more difficult to tell who is more dangerous to the public in these situations, some holed-up PTSD tweaker with a handgun, or the full-auto ‘roided-up SWAT thugs

    • aunt jan December 2, 2014 at 12:45 pm

      so witty, congrats. I hope you or your loved ones are never in need of help from the police. thanks to sgpd for resloving the issue with no one getting hurt.

    • Joanna December 2, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Oooooh ‘roided up SWAT thugs! If I was ever in danger I would want dozens of those.

      • aunt jan December 2, 2014 at 7:05 pm

        right?! that’s what I’m talking about, gotta love a man in a uniform! better yet, the whole SWAT team!

  • PROTECT THE SHEEP December 2, 2014 at 11:07 am

    why can’t they just send in the bishopric for a home teaching visit?

  • DarkMarc December 2, 2014 at 11:19 am

    UPDATE-11:15AM; ONE IN CUSTODY, “WE ARE 82 WITH THE SUSPECT”. Repeat the suspect is now in custody.

  • not you me December 2, 2014 at 11:47 am

    We should all know by now St. George news gets their information right off a website so it must be true then.

  • me December 2, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    why didn’t they just back the truck up to the rv and tow his a– to purgatory.

  • Stacey December 2, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    With regards to the ignorant comments about SWAT and SGPD; that “crazy tweaker” may have decided he was going to take a hostage. Matt, sounds like you live in the neighborhood, you might have been the lucky one, starting up your vehicle to head to work and what do you know, pistol in your face. I bet you’d be singing a different tune about the police and SWAT then. When a trained sniper puts a bullet in “crazy tweaker” and “crazy tweaker” doesn’t put a bullet in Matt’s head, maybe that’s what it takes to get you to appreciate law enforcement. You’re squawking about being late to work and getting fired (don’t know of ANY employer who would fire someone over that type of a situation, unless they were looking for any excuse they could find to get rid of a sub-standard employee) while law enforcement is out there, knowing they might take a bullet, to protect an ingrate like you. Wake up people! Law enforcement has to take measures like this to protect the citizens from “crazy tweakers”. SWAT is neccesary or the crazies would have them outgunned in most situations. You don’t fight a guy armed with an assault rifle with billy clubs and .38 specials. True, they make mistakes, and every situation isn’t handled perfectly, not so the case in this incident. Great job SGPD!! Nobody gets hurt and the bad guy goes to jail!

  • Bruce Raftery December 2, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    real intelligent comments offered on STGNews. com. How lucky are we to have these solid ccitizens in our midst.

  • Manuel labor December 2, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    Good job! Sgpd and s.w.a.t. for handling this appropriately. I read newspapers from here to California. Not always do standoffs like this turn out so fortunate. Outstanding! on looking for better alternatives than lead. Despite what some might say, if it takes time to prevent mortal injury so be it. I hope everyone that was involved directly or indirectly in today’s standoff has a merry Christmas and happy new year! That really is the big picture less people grieving through the holiday season. God bless!

  • Manuel labor December 3, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    This version.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKtdTJP_GUI&app=desktop

    • Manuel labor December 3, 2014 at 7:04 pm

      This comment was misplaced. It was regarding the SGPD’s new dance routine!

  • prof m December 3, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    Get the miltary tactics back to iraq/afganistan, and out of Glennbeckistan.

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