Whatcom man arrested after 2-hour SWAT standoff for allegedly threatening neighbors
A Maple Falls man was arrested after he allegedly threatened a neighboring family on a walk with a knife then barricaded himself in his home and held the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team in a standoff for two hours Tuesday evening.
Brian Adam Sanders, 46, was booked Wednesday, May 27, into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of three counts of felony harassment and one count each of obstructing police officers and resisting arrest. Jail records show he was released later Wednesday on $50,000 bail.
Deputies responded to the 9000 block of Robinswood Lane for the report that a man threatening his neighbors while they were on a walk at approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to information emailed to The Bellingham Herald by Chief Deputy Kevin Hester.
Deputies learned that a man and his two children were walking home when they were approached by Sanders, who pulled a large, fixed-blade knife from a sheath on his belt, raised it above his head as if he was going to stab the family members and began walking toward them, Hester reported.
With the help of another male witness in the area, the father grabbed his children and ran to their home, but Sanders threatened to kill the family in their sleep and to “cut them up” before returning to his home, Hester wrote.
When deputies arrived on scene, Sanders refused to come outside and threatened to kill the deputies, Hester reported, even coming out on the porch at one time and making threatening moves as if he had a gun.
Sanders then barricaded himself inside his home and refused to come out, Hester wrote. Deputies obtained a warrant to enter the home and arrest Sanders and called for the SWAT team.
At approximately 11 p.m. and after a two-hour standoff, Sanders was taken into custody, Hester reported, though a SWAT team member had to fire a less lethal munition at Sanders’ leg when he refused to comply with commands.
