Kaellen Hessel

Statesman Journal

Before engaging police in a nearly six-hour standoff, an Independence man threatened to kill his girlfriend, her children and any officers who would respond.

James Michael Munoz, 49, was arraigned Monday afternoon on counts of coercion, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, fourth-degree assault and recklessly endangering another person.

The charges stem from a domestic disturbance the Independence Police Department responded to at 11 p.m. April 2.

Munoz's girlfriend said when he came home he appeared to be high on methamphetamine. She told him she was leaving with the children because she didn't want the kids to be around him like that, according to a police affidavit filed in court. The probable cause statement described the ensuring events this way:

She began packing. Munoz retrieved a handgun from a nightstand and threatened to kill her friend and his family if she left. He then got what she said were two shotguns from another part of the house.

As he loaded the weapons, Munoz said who each round was for: his girlfriend, her friend and his family. When he ran out of rounds, he said, "Wait, I need two more," implying they were for her children.

He pointed a loaded shotgun at her and said he was going to kill her and her kids. She told police she feared it was true because of the "look in his eyes." Her son came into the house, saw what was happening and cried, "Don't shoot mama.".

She was able to move the children to another room and kept talking with Munoz to calm him down. She told him she would stay if he left the guns in the bedroom. After he agreed, she called family and a taxi.

When Munoz found her packing, he screamed and pushed her into a closet.

She told him she was calling the police. He said, "Go ahead. Call 'em. I'll shoot all of 'em," she told police.

When officers arrived at the home on South 6th Street, the girlfriend was loading items from the porch into a taxi cab. Munoz was on the front porch. When officers tried to speak with him, he told them they were trespassing. Officers said they were legally on the property because they were investigating a crime.

Munoz went inside and returned with a long gun. He was told to drop it but went inside instead.

Officers formed a perimeter and back-up came from Monmouth, Dallas and Salem police departments and Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The girlfriend safely left in the taxi and was interviewed by police about what happened before their arrival.

A negotiator with Salem police tried to get Munoz to leave the house. At 5:21 a.m., Munoz turned himself in.

Munoz's bail was set at $55,000. He's next scheduled to appear April 7 at 1:14 p.m. at the Polk County Circuit Courthouse, 850 Main Street in Dallas.

Email khessel@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6743 or follow on Twitter @KaellenHessel