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Armed Man Subdued By SWAT Team In Las Cruces

The Las Cruces Police SWAT, Hostage Negotiation and K-9 teams successfully detained a man who was wearing camouflage and body armor, and making threatening gestures with a handgun in a downtown treatment center.

At around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, a Las Cruces Police officer on patrol near downtown was flagged down and told that a man armed with a handgun had just entered the Arid Club at 334 W. Griggs Ave. Responding officers set up a perimeter and temporarily evacuated a couple of nearby buildings.

LCPD’s SWAT Team surrounded the building and the Hostage Negotiation Team attempted to establish communication with the armed man, later determined to be 37 years old. Police learned that another man was inside the building for a short period of time but was able to leave unharmed.

About an hour after the incident began, the SWAT team fired at least two non-lethal beanbag rounds which forced the man to the ground. A Taser was also used to help subdue the man. The man was still not compliant when a police K-9 was unleashed.

The suspect was subsequently disarmed by members of the SWAT team and taken into custody. No officers were injured during the incident.

The suspect was wearing camouflage fatigues and tactical body armor, and was found to have been carrying a small-caliber handgun that was loaded with ammunition.

The man was placed under arrest and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. No charges have been filed at this time but are expected.