Friday, May 21, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.
More than 100 people were evacuated from their southwest Las Vegas apartments Thursday afternoon after a man, who refused to take his prescribed antidepressants, allegedly waved a rifle while standing on his second-story apartment balcony.
Metro Police were first called to the Grand View Apartments, at 4255 W. Viking Road near Wynn and Flamingo Roads, at 7:30 a.m. after a man reported that his roommate, 56-year-old Mixail Doytchov, refused to take his medication and was "exhibiting odd behavior," said Office Jose Montoya, a Metro spokesman.
Doytchov told Metro that he did not want to take his medication but was not planning to harm himself or anyone else, Montoya said. Metro officers left the apartment but took note of the address, he said.
Officers were near the same apartment complex about 2:10 p.m. on an unrelated call when the apartment's maintenance man told them a man was standing on his balcony with a rifle.
After unsuccessfully trying to convince Doytchov to lay down the rifle and come out of the apartment, SWAT Teams and negotiators were called to the scene, Montoya said.
Doytchov retreated into the apartment and sat by a window with the rifle in hand, Montoya said.
Residents of nearby apartments were asked to stay inside and away from their windows for about an hour until police could evacuate them, he said.
Clark County School District officials contacted police and arranged for children coming home from school to remain inside the school bus until their parents or guardians could pick them up, Montoya said.
Police maintained communication with Doytchov throughout the standoff, Montoya said. Doytchov told police that he had recently lost his job and was experiencing "a family crisis," he said.
Doytchov also told police that the rifle was not loaded and that he was not going to kill himself or harm anyone, Montoya said.
Over the course of two hours, Metro Police set off several distraction devices. After those attempts failed, pepper spray was launched into the apartment.
Overcome by the fumes, Doytchov stepped onto the apartment balcony, where he was shot with bean-bags and wooden bullets, Montoya said.
Doytchov was struck by several bullets, with some striking him on his head, and he jumped from the second-story balcony and landed on a concrete walkway, where he was taken into custody by Metro Police about 7:15 p.m., he said.
"The bullets won't go through the skin, but they'll break the skin," Montoya said. "He had a few hit him on the head, so that's gonna leave a mean mark -- but he'll be okay."
Doytchov also may have suffered a sprained ankle from the jump, Montoya said.
He was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center to be checked out. At the very least, police expected to charge him with felony evasion, Montoya said.
Garden View residents were allowed to return to their apartments by 8:30 p.m., Montoya said.
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