Standoff could cost man $8,000
Officials say perpetrator should have to cover costs of incident

Sheriff Deputies, EMT's, and State Police begin to move farther back for safety reasons from the Z Lazy B Ranch (located at the end of this road through the trees) south of McGaffey on Monday afternoon after Donald Montgomery barricaded himself inside a cabin at the ranch with a high power rifle and threatened to kill himself. The standoff with police lasted hours and ended when a negotiator convinced Montgomery to give himself up. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 34-year-old man who engaged police in a seven-hour standoff in McGaffey on Monday afternoon, might have to pay for the services of the tactical team who talked him into surrendering.

Under Sheriff John Yearley, of the McKinley County Sheriff's Department, said Donald Montgomery cost the Albuquerque and New Mexico State Police departments, and ultimately taxpayers, nearly $8,000 for their time and services.

Law enforcement officials are working in connection with local prosecutors to determine whether restitution is warranted in the matter.

"He should be held responsible for the expenditures that were incurred," Yearley said.

Montgomery, armed with a high-powered rifle, holed up inside a log cabin at the Z Lazy B Guest Ranch and threatened to kill himself. Sheriff's deputies, who initially responded to the situation, were unable to approach Montgomery's cabin because he threatened to fire at authorities.

Police evacuated the ranch and settled in for a standoff that lasted until 7:40 p.m. A tactical team, comprised of Albuquerque and state police officers who traveled to McKinley County, donned protective gear and prepared to enter the cabin; however, the team was able to talk Montgomery into surrender by using a bull horn to announce their presence.

Yearly said he engaged in negotiations with an intoxicated Montgomery. Police also found a prescription of hydrocodone inside the cabin and suspect Montgomery was distraught due to a failed relationship.

"He was probably suicidal," Yearley said. "But in reality, he wasn't so deranged that he didn't know what he was doing."

Yearley said deputies planned to "wait Montgomery out" rather than breaking into the cabin or using tear gas that might increase Montgomery's distress.

"Society has changed concerning how we deal with suicidal people," he said.

Because Montgomery did not point the rifle at authorities, he was charged with a misdemeanor count of negligent use of a firearm rather than a more serious felony.

He was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center at about 9 p.m. and was released by Magistrate John Carey Wednesday morning.

Yearley said he is concerned that Montgomery did not receive adequate counseling and that he may be a threat to himself or the community. Montgomery, who is an employee of a local mortuary, has no previous felony conviction that would prevent him from purchasing firearms.

While sheriff's officials confiscated the rifle used in the standoff, they plan to inform local gun dealers of the situation.