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A standoff resulted in a Nevada County SWAT officer shooting and killing a 53-year-old man who was holding his girlfriend hostage at knifepoint.
Nevada County Sheriff's deputies responded to a residence in the 12000 block of Wolf Road near Duggans Road at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday for a physical domestic dispute, said Capt. Jeff Powell.
He said they had been called to the same residence Friday for a domestic disturbance.
The deputies forced entry to the house and allegedly found the man, identified as John Salazar, standing at the top of a stairway with his arm around the neck of his 55-year-old girlfriend, with a knife to her throat.
“He told them if they advanced any farther, he would cut her throat,” Powell said.
Salazar allegedly then went into a bedroom and barricaded the door.
The deputies called the SWAT team and negotiators, who tried to get a “throw phone” through the bedroom window. They then lifted the phone on a pole to the window, and Salazar allegedly grabbed it and threw it back. Negotiators tried to lob a cell phone through the window, but Salazar allegedly threw that back as well.
“He did not want to talk to us at all,” Powell said.
As the afternoon wore on, SWAT officers who were inside the residence downstairs became concerned that “there was something going on upstairs,” Powell said. “Given the past history and a serious concern for the victim's well-being, I felt her life was in danger.”
Powell gave permission for the SWAT team to take action at about 3:30 p.m., he said.
Officers gained entry to the bedroom, fired one shot and killed Salazar, Powell said. The victim — whose name was not released — had been severely beaten, according to Powell, and was transported to a hospital.
Sheriff's deputies were at the scene through Sunday, processing evidence with state Department of Justice criminalists. The SWAT officer —whose name has not yet been released — has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard procedure, Powell said.
Two knives were recovered at the scene, Powell said, adding that Salazar had a prior criminal history that included drug charges, assault with a deadly weapon and weapons violations.
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
Nevada County Sheriff's deputies responded to a residence in the 12000 block of Wolf Road near Duggans Road at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday for a physical domestic dispute, said Capt. Jeff Powell.
He said they had been called to the same residence Friday for a domestic disturbance.
The deputies forced entry to the house and allegedly found the man, identified as John Salazar, standing at the top of a stairway with his arm around the neck of his 55-year-old girlfriend, with a knife to her throat.
“He told them if they advanced any farther, he would cut her throat,” Powell said.
Salazar allegedly then went into a bedroom and barricaded the door.
The deputies called the SWAT team and negotiators, who tried to get a “throw phone” through the bedroom window. They then lifted the phone on a pole to the window, and Salazar allegedly grabbed it and threw it back. Negotiators tried to lob a cell phone through the window, but Salazar allegedly threw that back as well.
“He did not want to talk to us at all,” Powell said.
As the afternoon wore on, SWAT officers who were inside the residence downstairs became concerned that “there was something going on upstairs,” Powell said. “Given the past history and a serious concern for the victim's well-being, I felt her life was in danger.”
Powell gave permission for the SWAT team to take action at about 3:30 p.m., he said.
Officers gained entry to the bedroom, fired one shot and killed Salazar, Powell said. The victim — whose name was not released — had been severely beaten, according to Powell, and was transported to a hospital.
Sheriff's deputies were at the scene through Sunday, processing evidence with state Department of Justice criminalists. The SWAT officer —whose name has not yet been released — has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard procedure, Powell said.
Two knives were recovered at the scene, Powell said, adding that Salazar had a prior criminal history that included drug charges, assault with a deadly weapon and weapons violations.
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.
