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Evicted tenant holds off police for three hours in standoff

Eric Leake

Friday, May 13, 2005 | 10:02 a.m.

A nearly three-hour police standoff with a 61-year-old man ended peacefully Thursday afternoon.

David Callahan barricaded himself with a gun inside his downtown apartment at the Lee Motel, 200 S. Eighth St., at Carson Avenue.

Metro Police Officer Bill Cassell, a spokesman for the department, said the standoff started about 1:30 p.m. when the landlord evicting Callahan called police.

"They had prior knowledge that he had a firearm in the room," Cassell said. "He displayed it in a threatening manner to the officers."

Police did not say if the man's revolver was loaded.

A small crowd watched from behind police lines as SWAT officers in vests and helmets moved in on the apartment.

Cassell said negotiators had contacted the man a couple of times before he eventually surrendered without incident about 4 p.m.

Callahan was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

Michael Malak, 42, lives on the floor above Callahan and was unable to return home during the standoff.

"I know the man you're talking about. He's really a good man," Malak said. "He's an old man who uses an oxygen tank and a cane. He can't even walk."

Malak was glad to hear nobody was injured. He said Callahan is mentally unstable.

"It is a sad situation," he said.

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