Man in standoff with police

A New Mexico State Police Officer wearing swat team gear gets ready about a half mile away from the Z Lazy B Ranch south of McGaffey on Monday afternoon. An unidentified man was reportedly wielding a high power rifle and he was barricaded inside a cabin at the ranch threatening to kill himself causing a standoff with police. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A man armed with a high-powered rifle barricaded himself inside a cabin just south of McGaffey and engaged police in a multi-agency standoff.

Lt. Roger Mace, a spokesman for the McKinley County Sheriff's Department, said deputies were called to the Z Lazy B Ranch at about noon on Monday in reference to a man who was threatening to kill himself.

According to the captain at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center, Donald Montgomery, 34, with an address in Fort Wingate, was brought in to the jail around 9 p.m. after he was arrested for negligent use of a deadly weapon after he fired shots from his Magnum 306 from the cabins at the Z Lazy B Guest Ranch.

Deputies were unable to approach the log cabin because Montgomery allegedly threatened to shoot rounds of ammunition at authorities. Deputies also reportedly denied the man's request for one of the officers to come to his door, due to concern of possible gun fire.

Police subsequently evacuated the ranch. It is unknown how many people were at the location at the time of the incident.

The New Mexico State Police's emergency response team arrived at the scene minutes later and began to prepare its team for the possibility of entering the cabin.

Officers, who donned protective gear, waited about a half a mile from the cabin in case their assistance was needed. At least two dozen emergency vehicles, including Fort Wingate fire engines and a Med-Star ambulance, waited at an incident command post located near the elk farm about a mile from the cabin.

Mace said officers considered using tear gas to drive the Montgomeryfrom the residence, but were unsure of how well the gas would work because of the cabin's construction.

As the sun began to set, officers called for a portable generator and lights to carry their operation into the morning hours, if warranted; however, it all ended before 9 p.m.

According to the police report, Montgomery appeared intoxicated when he was arrested. The jail captain said the report indicated Montgomery had "bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of liquor."

Mace said a negotiator wasemployed to speak with Montgomery by phone during the standoff.

After the man was taken to the jail, he was sent to the hospital for an emergency mental evaluation and then brought back to jail.