Two children are safe, and a Central Point man is in custody following a dramatic standoff with the Ashland Oregon Police Department (APD) on Thursday night.
The incident began when a call came in to the Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon ECSO 911 Dispatch at 5:53 p.m. on May 30, reporting that a potentially armed, suicidal man was holding two children, ages 4 and 7, hostage in an apartment on the 300 block of Engle Street in Ashland.
APD identified the suspect as Erik Macias, 36, of Central Point. Macias faces charges of felony fourth-degree domestic violence assault, domestic violence menacing, coercion, and driving with a suspended license. Additionally, he had outstanding felony warrants for fourth-degree domestic violence assault and driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII).
At approximately 9 p.m., the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) SWAT team and Crisis Negotiators Team (CNT) joined APD at the scene. SWAT and APD officers surrounded the apartment while detectives obtained a search warrant. CNT attempted negotiations with Macias for around three hours, but when these efforts failed, SWAT used a flash bang device and JCSO K9 announcements to enter the apartment.
Macias was arrested without incident, and the children were rescued at 12:42 a.m. Both children were returned to their mother unharmed.
The case remains under investigation, and APD continues to follow additional leads. No further information is available at this time.
