Broomfield police used a non-lethal bullet to subdue and arrest a man who barricaded himself inside a bar early this morning after pointing a gun at officers, said Sgt. Colleen O’Connell.
Justin Ishizu, 19, was also wanted for escaping from a Jefferson County work-release program.
The incident began about 1:17 a.m. when officers stopped the car Ishizu was riding in and discovered a 16-year-old girl was driving the car apparently drunk and with a suspended license.
While arresting the girl, officers noticed Ishizu in the back seat.
Police saw what they thought was a plastic gun case between his legs. They later discovered it was a .25-caliber pistol.
Ishizu got out of the car and ran from police into In-Kahoots Bar in the 12700 block of Lowell Boulevard. While running away, police say he flashed the gun at them.
Police evacuated patrons and management from the bar while they tried to negotiate with Ishizu to come out.
He refused.
Members of Broomfield’s SWAT team went into the bar two hours later and used a non-lethal round to disable Ishizu and arrested him.
After the standoff, Ishizu was booked into the Broomfield County Detention Center on suspicion of being an offender in possession of a gun, using a weapon while under the influence of alcohol, obstructing police, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and violating a restraining order.
Ishizu has a lengthy arrest record, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Arrests made in Westminster and Jefferson County include allegations of illegally using credit cards, assault and battery, possession of handguns by a juvenile, and obstructing police and resisting an officer.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or at fcardona@denverpost.com.
