The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team assisted in the arrest of a North Bonneville man wanted on multiple warrants Thursday night after he raised a firearm toward deputies who entered his home.
After two hours of negotiations, Skamania County sheriff’s deputies and SWAT officers arrested 42-year-old Robert Lane on suspicion of first-degree assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to a Skamania County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Lane was wanted on warrants related to stalking and violating a protection order, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies had been trying to find Lane for several days. They were able to reach him by phone Thursday afternoon and learned he was at his North Bonneville home.
Lane maintained his contact with deputies through phone and text but refused to exit the house, the sheriff’s office said. Law enforcement were cautious in their approach because they believed Lane had one or more guns.
Deputies entered Lane’s house after two hours of talking on the phone failed to result in his surrender.
“Deputies were immediately confronted by Lane who was armed with a long gun, and he raised the gun toward the deputies. Deputies were able to exit the residence without engaging Lane,” the sheriff’s office said, noting that Lane indicated through texts and phone messages he was suicidal.
The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team was called to help with the situation. Some SWAT officers spoke with Lane while others positioned themselves around the home, according to the sheriff’s office.
A gunshot rang out from inside the home at one point. Lane told officers he accidentally discharged a gun toward his ceiling, according to the sheriff’s office.
Lane decided to surrender around 8 p.m. He was taken into custody.
Once in custody, Lane said he tried to overdose on medications before he exited his home. He was examined at the scene and then taken to a medical facility for observation.
The sheriff’s office credited the skills of the negotiators and SWAT team members for the happy ending to the standoff.
“Through a pattern of poor decisions, Mr. Lane created a highly volatile situation,” Sheriff Dave Brown wrote in the news release.
