Crime And Courts

Dozens of neighbors were sent alerts warning of armed, barricaded subject

(Update: Resident arrested early Monday after leaving home)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Deschutes River Woods resident was arrested early Monday on kidnapping, assault and other charges after leaving his home, where a domestic violence incident led to a neighborhood alert Saturday night of an armed, barricaded man, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

About 65 residents in the area of Choctaw Road had been warned in alert calls and texts around 8 p.m. Saturday to shelter in place or not return home due to an “armed barricaded subject in your neighborhood.”

Sheriff’s Sgt. William Bailey said deputies got the call around 7:20 p.m. of an armed man involved in a domestic dispute. Once deputies arrived, they were able to get a woman, the alleged victim, out of the house safely.

Deputies left the scene around 10 p.m. and notified the neighbors, saying there had been no threats made to or danger to the public.

Sheriff’s detectives, however, continued surveillance at the home, and Bradley Carl Mitchell, 58, was arrested around 6 a.m. Monday, after leaving his home, Bailey said.

Mitchell was lodged in the county jail in Bend on charges of first-degree kidnapping, second- and fourth-degree assault, harassment, menacing, coercion and unlawful use of a weapon. He was held on total bail of $177,500.

Bailey said, “He was threatening us if we showed up,” but made “no external threats. So rather than force a situation, we had surveillance since the incident occurred. One we were able to get him away from the residence, where firearms were out of play,” an arrest was made.

“This outcome is one example of, instead of forcing the situation at the moment, we backed away, watched and waited for an opportunity to safely take him into custody,” he said, rather than potentially provoke a confrontation.

Court records show Mitchell pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge in August and was sentenced to two days in jail.

A three-part alert text received by area residents around 8 p.m. Saturday and shared with NewsChannel 21 said the sheriff's office "is responding to an armed barricaded subject in your neighborhood."

"Shelter in place if you are receiving this message and are at home near Choctaw Road," the message continued. "If you are not at home, please avoid the area at this time. More information to follow as the incident develops."

Area residents reported a large presence of law enforcement as the situation unfolded.