By TED TAYLOR

CENTRAL OREGON DAILY

Bend Police Tuesday evening used “special tactics” to get a wanted man out of a house near Drake Park after he had barricaded himself inside for several hours.

Officers on the scene told Central Oregon Daily’s Anyssa Bohanan they used “cold” and “hot” gas to get the man out of the house at 1031 1/2 Columbia St.

The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Jeffrey Randall Short, was eventually taken into custody around 6 p.m.

According to Bend Police Sgt. Wes Murphy, Short was the subject of an investigation into the December theft of several items from Bend’s Home Depot, including six snow blowers. During the course of the investigation, Bend PD responded to several similar calls, including stolen ATV’s, snow blowers, wood splitters, a welding machine, and a rifle.

Short was taken to jail and charged with second-degree burglary, four counts of first-degree theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Bend Police Lt. Clint Burleigh said the incident Tuesday started about 10:40 a.m. when officers prepared to execute a search warrant at the house. During the preparation, Burleigh said they received additional information that led to the beefed-up police presence “for the safety of the community.”

“Sometimes we’ll take those extra steps of caution based on the scenario to make sure everyone is safe at this point,” he said.

The Central Oregon Emergency Response Team responded to the scene, along with more than a dozen officers.

When CERT team member went to the door, Short refused to come out, police said, leading to the afternoon standoff. Just before 6 team members entered the home with the help of chemical agents, Murphy said.

Short could be heard yelling at officers during the standoff, which closed streets and prompted a lockout at two nearby elementary schools.

Highland Magnet School at Kenwood School on Newport Avenue and Westside Village Magnet School at Kingston Elementary on 12th Street, both were put on lockout before school was let out.

The district sent a text to parents saying due to the police activity, they would need to pick up students who walked or biked to school.

Burleigh said officers went door to door in the area to talk to neighbors, but never restricted access for them in or out of the area.

“If we felt this raised to the point where the neighbors were in danger we would ask neighbors to evacuate but we’re not doing that,” he said.

Columbia Street was closed between Kingston and Jacksonville while officers tried to communicate with Short.