Police arrested a Sitka man Saturday (12-24-23) after he allegedly barricaded himself in an apartment and told police he had a firearm.
47-year-old James Thompson faces two felony charges of terroristic threatening in the second degree and a misdemeanor assault charge.
Police say they were attempting to contact Thompson about an open warrant at his residence in the Sawmill Creek Apartment complex about 2 p.m. on Saturday (12-24-23). According to court documents , Thompson refused to open the door to the officer and then barricaded himself in the apartment, stating that he had a weapon. Sitka Police Department spokesperson Serena Wild said that was when the situation escalated.
“The officer felt that Mr. Thompson could then be a threat to other people if he did have a weapon and was going to try to use it to get the officer away from his door,” Wild said.
Police deployed a smoke grenade and two flash bang grenades, then forcibly breached the door to the apartment. Thompson was taken into custody without further incident.
A preliminary hearing is set for January 4 in Sitka.
