No charges after standoff involving SWAT, bomb squad in east Colorado Springs
UPDATE: The barricaded suspect was taken into custody, according to sheriff’s deputies, and Peterson Blvd. was also reopened to traffic. However, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says no charges will be filed after the incident.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says the man was driving a white van with propane tanks wired to the inside. Those tanks weren’t set to detonate, and no explosives or other dangerous materials were found in the van.
A spokesperson with the sheriff’s office says the man was in a “mental health crisis” and is now getting help. The sheriff’s office thanked the community for calling in the suspicious vehicle and that the incident resulted in the best scenario that could’ve happened in this case.
Earlier:
It was first reported by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office that the suspect tried to get onto Peterson Air Force Base. However, the 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB disputed that report, and the sheriff’s office later confirmed that the suspect didn’t attempt to enter the base.
That prompted a heavy police response, possibly because of an incident about three weeks ago, when a car loaded with propane tanks plowed through the gate at Travis Air Force Base in California and burst into flames. The driver in that incident died.
A witness then spotted the vehicle circle around the parking lot at Super 8 and called police, the sheriff’s office said.
It’s not yet known what criminal charges the suspect faces.
Earlier:
El Paso County deputies and SWAT are at Peterson Blvd. after a report of a barricaded person inside a vehicle that’s possibly armed with explosives.
A KRDO viewer told us that a Super 8 hotel at the scene (MAP) was evacuating residents near a white van that was possibly wired with propane tanks.
Peterson has been shut down from Hwy 24 to Galley Road, according to the sheriff’s office. (PHOTOS)
EPSO SWAT and Regional EOD responding to barricaded suspect in a vehicle possibly armed with explosives. Please stay away from the area. Peterson Road is shut down from 24 to Galley. Media staging will be at the corner of Galley and Peterson in the dirt parking lot. pic.twitter.com/3DXVL1IKlu
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) April 3, 2018
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
