Colorado Springs police arrested a man wanted for attempted murder and other crimes after a standoff that began when the suspect climbed to the top of a 75-foot pine tree.
Lane Malouff, 30, spent more than six hours in the tree on Sunday. Police identified Malouff, now in the El Paso County Jail, on Monday.
Alamosa police were looking for Malouff, who was wanted for assaulting the mother of his two children, threatening her with a weapon and attempting to strangle her, according to an Alamosa Police Department statement.
Three children were inside the residence where the attack happened, but none were harmed.
A Colorado Springs police tactical enforcement unit found Malouff, who was wanted on various warrants out of Alamosa, around 4 p.m., Lt. Howard Black, police spokesman said.
“A foot chase ensued, and he was able to make it to some rooftops. From the rooftops he was able to climb an evergreen, and that is where he stayed,” Black said.
Police, who didn’t know whether the suspect had a gun, evacuated residents in the area of 2200 Lelaray St.
Malouff was known to have said he wouldn’t be taken alive, Black said.
“He was considered armed and dangerous,” Black said.
Police used loud speakers to try to talk him into leaving the tree. They also fired pepper spray pellets, which broke on contact with the tree, but wind dispersed the spray before it could reach Malouff.
He talked with police negotiators, asking about the warrants for his arrest, and complaining that he was uncomfortable.
At one point, water from a fire truck that was on scene was aimed at the tree. “We were not trying to knock him out of the tree,” Black said.
He came down at about 10:15 p.m. Police found he was unarmed.
Malouff is being held on $200,000 bond. He was also wanted for second degree burglary, felony menacing, violation of a protection order, third-degree assault and child abuse.
