PORT ANGELES — A seven-hour standoff ended Thursday morning when a 26-year-old Port Angeles man surrendered without incident.
Justin G. Mason, 26, was arrested for investigation of unlawful imprisonment, stalking and harassment after he allegedly threatened a women and barricaded himself alone in a house in the 1500 block of West Fifth Street in west Port Angeles.
At least 20 officers from multiple jurisdictions were involved in the standoff, which ended shortly after 9 a.m.
Neighbors evacuated
Mason was believed to be armed and dangerous.
Three nearby residences were evacuated, and motorists were asked to take alternate routes during the ordeal.
“We received a call at approximately 2 a.m. from a female who claimed that this subject had made threats towards her,” Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
The police charge of unlawful imprisonment was based on what the woman had told police.
“He made a statement [to the woman] to fact that if she showed up with police, ‘I’m going to do suicide by cop,'” Smith said.
Port Angeles police, Sequim police and Clallam County sheriff’s deputies surrounded the house.
Crisis negotiators were unsuccessful in their initial attempts to make contact with Mason.
Police followed the same protocol they use for all standoffs, Smith said.
Incident and tactical command vehicles were called to the scene. Given the hour, loudspeakers were never used.
“We made every effort to minimize the impact on the neighborhood,” Smith said.
Mason wouldn’t talk to negotiators until police obtained a search warrant and delivered a two-way “phone device” through a window, Smith said.
A good ending
Kori Malone, a trained crisis negotiator with the Port Angeles Police Department, eventually convinced Mason to surrender.
“We’re very happy when it ends like this,” Smith said.
“We were very patient. Time was on our side.”
After the arrest, police found a firearm inside the residence.
“That creates a heightened sense of caution on our part,” Smith said.
There was no evidence that the firearm was used unlawfully. Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected to have been involved.
The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will file formal charges. Mason did not appear in Clallam County Superior Court on Thursday.
In 2008, Mason was convicted of first-degree car theft, third-degree malicious mischief, third-degree theft and resisting arrest.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
