Homes evacuated as man threatens to blow up trailer.
 

Silver City police responded to a call around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 1600 block of West Market Street where a man said he was going to blow up his trailer, Silver City police spokesman Capt. Chris Ponce said in a news release.

The man -- whose name has not been released because he has not been charged with any crime at this point -- told officers on the scene that he had filled his house with gas and threatened to ignite it, Ponce said.

The police evacuated the mobile home park where the man lives as well as several surrounding blocks while the Silver City Fire Department stood by and Public Service Company of New Mexico crews shut off the gas in the area, KOAT-TV reported today on its Web site.

Police tried to negotiate with the man for some time, then decided to use nonlethal force to subdue him, Ponce said in the news release.

The man was hit by a beanbag and officers noticed the trailer's back door was on fire, so they fired again through the window of the front door and struck him on the shoulder, the release said.

Police then entered the trailer and subdued the man after firing a third beanbag round into his chest, according to the release.

He was taken Gila Medical Center for a mental health evaluation and treatment for any injuries suffered by the beanbag rounds, Ponce told ABQjournal.com by phone a short time ago.

The incident is still being investigated, but no charges have been filed as yet, Ponce said.

"I understand there were domestic issues," Ponce told us. He and a woman -- who is either the man's wife or girlfriend -- "were having problems; that's what started this whole thing," Ponce said.

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Rate this article:
Poor Great

Comment:

BOLD

"QUOTE"

UNDERLINE