A suspect is in custody following an hours-long standoff in Mountain View Thursday, police say.
The man, identified as 26-year-old Eric Nebreja, locked himself in a residence on the 200 block of North Flower Street. He later surrendered after police deployed tear gas into the apartment he was hiding in, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
In an alert sent out around 1:30 p.m., police said gas could be deployed to apprehend the suspect if negotiations failed. Nearby residences and businesses were evacuated in case of gas deployment, and authorities asked people in the area to close windows and doors.
Nearby roads were closed off during the standoff and police sent out alerts advising people to avoid the area.
Glen Ellis, who manages the Shell station on Mountain View Drive near Price Street, said it all started in the Shell parking lot.
“A gentleman was getting ready to pull out of my parking lot, apparently he saw something he didn’t like, decided to back his car up and backed into my truck,” he said.
Ellis went outside and confronted the man. A few moments later, an unmarked police car pulled up in front of the man “to keep him from going anywhere,” Ellis said.
At that point, the man jumped out of his car and took off running.
When he ran across Price Street, Ellis watched the man reach into a jacket pocket.
“I don’t know what he was reaching for in his pocket, but a .45 magazine fell out.”
In a statement released around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, APD said Nebreja was wanted on several felony warrants including weapons misconduct, assault and escape. When an officer recognized Nebreja’s car in the parking lot of the Shell station, police said Nebreja attempted to drive away, then fled on foot when the officer blocked his car and tried to contact him.
The officer ran after Nebreja and deployed his Taser, but APD said Nebreja fought through the Taser and pointed a handgun at two officers. At one point, police said, he pointed the handgun at his own head and threatened to commit suicide.
Nebreja was taken into custody several hours later, and police said he was driven to a local hospital to be medically cleared for tear gas inhalation and a minor cut to his leg. According to APD, Nebreja faces multiple charges in connection with Thursday’s standoff: three counts of third-degree assault and single counts of third-degree weapons misconduct, first-degree burglary, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, third-degree criminal mischief, driving without a license and intent to distribute heroin.