UPDATE: Seven hour standoff ends at North Salinas apartment complex
UPDATE 6/17/2015 11:25 a.m.: Hostage negotiators worked with a Salinas man on Tuesday and were able to get him to surrender peacefully, following a seven hour standoff with law enforcement. The standoff followed an attempt to serve him a final eviction notice, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said they knew Curtis Barnett, 60, was armed with at least one gun, prompting a multi-agency response. Investigators said the final notice was to be served at Barnett’s apartment at Pointe at Harden Ranch in North Salinas.
Barnett told deputies he had a gun in his apartment and said he didn’t want to leave and threatened to hurt himself. Monterey County SWAT, hostage negotiators, and the Monterey County Mental Health Department were called out to the apartment and tried to convince Barnett to come out without hurting himself or others.
Salinas Police helped the Sheriff’s Office with traffic control and additional medical teams were on standby. They’re efforts created traffic delays for people who live in the area.
“When there’s one handgun, or one weapon there’s a potential for a second one, yeah, that potential is there. Right now we know of the one weapon that he is threatening to hat himself with,” Commander John Thornburg said.
Investigators said Barnett was notified five days ago about this final eviction notice. At least three apartments were evacuated and residents had to wait until the standoff ended to return home.
The Sheriff’s Office said Barnett was taken to Natividad Medical Center for psychological evaluation.
UPDATE 6/16/15 7:00 p.m.: At about 6:30 p.m. suspect Curtis Barnett, 60, surrendered to officers. The seven hour standoff brought SWAT officers and police to the location. The Crisis Intervention Team was in contact with Barnett the whole way. Barnett was taken the hospital for medical evaluation. This story will be updated.
6/16/15 2:45p.m.: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says the man who refuses to leave his apartment in Salinas is 60-year-old Curtis Barnett. Barnett is a convicted felon and told deputies that he had a handgun with him when they showed up to serve him an eviction notice.
The Sheriff’s Office says this was Barnett’s final eviction notice, he was notified about that final eviction about five days ago. Deputies saw the handgun Barnett claimed to have had but are not sure if he has other weapons. He has threatened to hurt himself.
The hostage negotiation team and three officers who are Crisis Intervention Team trained are on scene.
The Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is anyone else in the apartment with Barnett, but can’t be 100% sure.
6/16/15 12:27p.m.: Monterey County SWAT and Salinas Police are responding to standoff situation at Pointe at Harden Ranch apartment complex on N. Main St. Tuesday afternoon.
This comes after the Sheriff’s Office said it tried to serve an eviction notice at an apartment.
Investigators said the person inside the apartment is refusing to come out and is armed with a gun.
Ten apartments at the complex have been evacuated.
NewsChannel 5 has a crew on scene and this information will be updated.
