There were some tense moments Tuesday night after police officers responded to the 500 block of Woodside Way where 45 year-old Susanville resident Joseph Adair had reportedly barricaded himself inside a residence and threatened to take his own life.
According to details released by the Susanville Police Department, officers arrived at around 8:00p.m. to find Adair standing in front of his residence and attempted to contact him.
“As officers were approaching Adair,” explained Susanville Police Chief Tom Downing, “he went back into his residence through a garage door, revealed himself in a front window and proceeded to fire several rounds from a pellet gun in the direction of the approaching officers.”
At this point officers began verbal negotiations with Adair from outside the residence; however he refused to come out of the residence. Negotiations continued for several hours in an attempt to identify the issue with Adair and resolve the situation peacefully.
After a four hour standoff, Adair opened the interior door leading to the garage and engaged officers with a pellet pistol. The officers were able to subdue Adair and arrest him without injury.
Adair was booked into the Lassen County Jail on multiple charges including assault on a peace officer with simulated firearm, resisting an officer with violence, and discharging a pellet gun in a negligent manner. Adair was held on $15,000 bail.
Chief Downing thanked members of the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol who assisted the Police Department during this incident. He said that, “Their assistance in crisis situations is always appreciated.”
The case has been referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
