Man arrested after early morning shelter-in-place order in Fountain
UPDATE:
FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) - The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has lifted the shelter-in-place order for residents within a quarter-mile of Village Meadows Drive. Residents may resume normal activity, according to the alert issued at 7:09 a.m.
A KRDO13 crew on scene reported the area was still blocked off with a heavy law enforcement presence at 7 a.m., shortly before the order was lifted.
According to the Fountain Police Department, officers responded to the 7300 block of Village Meadows Drive for reports of a resident firing shots at 2:15 a.m.
The Fountain Police Department told us that the individual did not cooperate with officers, resulting in a response from specialized units surrounding the house.
A police spokesman said negotiations between police and the suspect lasted for hours until about 7 a.m.
According to authorities, negotiation attempts were unsuccessful, which resulted in warrants being used along with deploying gas techniques to remove the suspect from the house.
Officials told us that 46-year-old John Martin was taken into custody facing multiple charges, including first-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and more.
Several residents I spoke with who lived on the street told me that the loud noises of gunshots and sirens had woken them up.
Residents like Jervannti Baker were not sure how to react to the alarming sounds on his street early in the morning.
"It kind of put me in a place of worry, and I wanted to know if I should get up or stay in bed or I didn't know what to do," Baker said.
It was not the way Baker and his family intended to start the weekend.
"I suffer from ptsd and what happened last night was one of those things that caused my ptsd to trigger and ... I moved here to get away from those triggers, and that's what surprised me the most," Baker said.
The remains of the tear gas used are still visible from two broken windows in the house and a wooden boarded-up door that has a sign saying tear gas was used.
Police say no one was hurt in the operation.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office issued a shelter-in-place order early Saturday morning due to law enforcement activity near the 7300 block of Village Meadows Drive.
The alert, sent at approximately 2:49 a.m. on Oct. 24, directed residents within a quarter-mile of Village Meadows Drive to secure their homes and businesses, stay away from doors and windows, and shelter in a safe place until further notice.
The Sheriff’s Office said residents will receive another alert when the order is lifted. The notice did not describe the law enforcement activity that prompted the order.
As of 7 a.m., a KRDO13 crew is on scene, where the area remains blocked off with a heavy law enforcement presence.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
