Legends Casino Hotel was placed in a lockdown for more than three hours on Monday night into Tuesday morning after authorities spotted an armed man in a car parked at the Toppenish, Wash. gaming property.
The suspect, later identified as Juan Carlos Sandoval, 37, who is a transient, was asleep in the car. A firearm was on his lap.
Yakama Nation Tribal Police showed up to the casino’s parking lot at about 10:30 p.m. They woke up Sandoval and tried to talk to him. But he refused to exit the vehicle.
Aimed Gun at His Head
He then grabbed the firearm, and pointed it at his head with his finger on the trigger, according to the Yakima Herald-Republic, a local newspaper.
In an effort to curry favor with him, deputies and officers allowed him to speak to his relatives over the phone. The officers also provided him with some items he requested.
Also, officers from other nearby Washington State departments soon arrived at the parking lot. Included were specially trained negotiators from the Yakima Police Department.
Given that he had a gun, Legends Casino was put into lockdown. At about 2 a.m., police were able to get the suspect to unload his firearm.
But he still refused to exit the vehicle. He eventually left the car. A Yakima police dog, “Zorro,” was let loose to subdue the man. Officers fired non-lethal ammunition at the suspect, too.
He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police apprehended him and he was transported to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital for examination and treatment.
Upon his release, he was booked at the Yakima County Jail on first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest charges, according to an online news site, YaktrinNews.com.
Pending Warrants
Officers checked his criminal background. They discovered there were prior warrants in his name for robbery and assault charges in connection with a recent armed carjacking.
He is also expected to be charged for failing to register as a sex offender and violation of probation, according to the Herald-Republic.
On Tuesday afternoon, he is scheduled to appear in Yakima County Superior Court.
The tribal casino is operated by the Yakama Nation. It is located 162 miles southeast of Seattle.
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