A Susanville man who was wanted on several charges, including kidnapping, was taken into custody Friday night after a tense standoff with deputies at a home on Kei Deh Street just north of the Susanville city limits.
According to details released by the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, the agency received a report at about 1:00p.m. Friday that 41-year old Susanville resident Maitland Carpenter was holding a person at gunpoint at a residence on Kei Deh Street. The initial report, according to the LCSO, was that Carpenter was barricaded in the bedroom of a residence, was armed with a firearm and a knife and holding an individual against their will.
“Deputies responded to the area and established a secure perimeter around the residence,” explained Sheriff Dean Growdon in the statement.
“Additional units from the California Highway Patrol, Susanville Police Department, and Cal-Fire responded and assisted with containment. Additional resources were requested from California Highway Patrol Air Operations, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.”
While maintaining the perimeter, several occupants exited the residence where the incident was unfolding, including the person who had allegedly been held at gunpoint.
Additional residents in the immediate area of the incident were evacuated for safety.
Around 4:00, on-scene units attempted verbal contact with Carpenter. Communication efforts included the calling of a telephone that he was believed to have in his possession.
“At about 6:00,” continued Growdon, “tactical units began deploying chemical munitions into the residence. Communication with Carpenter was established and lost multiple times. But he refused to come out and repeatedly made threats to the officers on scene.”
At about 6:15 Carpenter came to the front door of the residence and was taken into custody.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, CDCR, CHP, Cal Fire, Susanville Police Department, Susan River Fire, Janesville Fire, Susanville City Fire, SEMSA, and the Community Church of Susanville for their assistance.
