36-year-old man cited after standoff in tree prompts shelter-in-place notice

Eugene, OR – A 36-year-old man was cited after a lengthy incident that prompted a temporary shelter-in-place notice in the area of Jackson Street, according to the Eugene Police Department.

Police said officers and firefighters with the Eugene Springfield Fire Department responded around 2:15 p.m. on March 7 to the 2400 block of Jackson Street after receiving reports of a disorderly man armed with a knife who had climbed into a roughly 100-foot-tall spruce tree. The man was also reported to be bleeding from a non-life-threatening, self-inflicted knife wound.

Officers attempted to calm the man while confirming he was armed with a knife. Drones were deployed to provide officers and firefighters with a closer view and continuous monitoring of the suspect’s actions in the tree. During the incident, the man claimed he had a handgun and threatened to pull it, prompting police to activate the department’s SWAT and Crisis Negotiation Team.

An emergency message was sent advising nearby residents to shelter in place. Negotiators, including family members assisting at the scene, attempted to communicate with the man for more than six hours.

Using drone technology, officers later confirmed the man was not armed with a handgun. The suspect eventually dropped the knife, which officers recovered. At approximately 8 p.m., the man remained in the tree and refused to come down, but authorities determined he was not a threat to the community. Police, fire, and crisis negotiation resources left the scene, and the shelter-in-place notice was lifted.

At about 9:39 p.m., residents reported the man had climbed down from the tree. An officer responded and located him. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and cited in lieu of custody for second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree criminal mischief.