Police: Transient threatened to kill others at NE Bend camp

A man armed with a spiked metal tool threatened to kill others at a northeast Bend transient camp Tuesday afternoon, prompting a major police call-out before he eventually surrendered quietly, officers said.

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers got a call shortly before 4 p.m. from a woman reporting that the man, later identified as transient Nathan Mitchell Felix, 30, was armed with a hatchet and threatening others, Sgt. Tim Guest said.

Numerous Bend police officers were sent to the scene, along with Oregon State Police and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies.

A police negotiator also was called out to try to help with Felix, who was not cooperative and verbally threatened officers, Guest said.

After police ensured three other occupants of the camp were taken to safety, Felix was taken into custody without further incident just after 4:30 p.m., Guest said. It turned out he had a metal tool used in demolition, with a spike on one end and a pry bar on the other, the sergeant added.

Guest said there was no use of force. “After awhile out there, trying to calm down, he laid down on the ground peacefully,” he said. The heavy police response occurred because “we didn’t know how many potential victims, and he’s saying he’s going to kill people.”

Felix remained held on $20,000 bail at the county jail late Tuesday night, facing charges of unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, second-degree disorderly conduct and second-degree theft.