Standoff ends with suspect charged

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 | 2:35 p.m.

A man despondent over his separation from his wife held police at bay in the northwest valley on Monday, but was eventually taken into custody on numerous charges, Metro Police said today.

Officers arrived in the 7100 block of Cabarita Ave., near Durango Drive and Gomer Road early on Monday afternoon responding to a domestic disturbance. The wife informed police her husband, Andre Griffin, was upset and depressed over their separation. She said her husband might have been drinking, taking drugs and was outside sitting in his truck with a gun, police said.

As officers arrived in the area Griffin left in his truck and a short pursuit ensued, ending when officers immobilized Griffin's vehicle, police said.

Griffin still refused to leave his truck. Police said he allegedly placed a firearm to his head and said he did not want to live.

Police evacuated area homes and Wright Elementary School was placed on lockdown.

Metro's SWAT team and negotiators were called to the scene. SWAT officers took Griffin into custody without further incident.

Griffin was taken to the Clark County Detention Center and booked on the following felony charges: as an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, evading a police officer, resisting arrest with a weapon and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure. He was also booked on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, police said.