La Pine standoff ends in assault suspect’s arrest

Deschutes County’s special tactical team was called out early Wednesday to a standoff at a home in La Pine that ended peacefully with the surrender of a suspect in an assault hours earlier, sheriff’s deputies said.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Davis said deputies were dispatched shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday to contact a man at the main La Pine Fire Station on Huntington Road.

Donnie R. Hardwick, 44, reported he’d been assaulted by another man who he knew, identified as Jesse Maurice Jones, 45, of La Pine, said Sgt. Deke DeMars.

Hardwick was taken by La Pine Fire medics to St. Charles Bend with serious injuries, according to Davis. A nursing supervisor said he was in fair condition later Wednesday morning.

Burlinda Gross, Hardwick’s wife, told NewsChannel 21 Wednesday her husband was stabbed with scissors. Police said they could not confirm this. Gross said her husband has a collapsed lung, among other wounds.

“I almost fainted, because I didn’t know where all the blood was coming from,” Gross said. “He had it coming out of his face, his nose, from under his arm.”

She also said that the fight took place in the street between her and Jones’ home.

In the early-morning hours Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded to a home in the 16000 block of Wyatt Drive, east of Highway 97 and north of Finley Butte Road, and determined the suspect was inside.

Police say they saw the suspect in the home but waited for special forces to arrive before making any moves. The sheriff’s office Special Operations Team was dispatched to the scene and was able to establish communication with Jones, who eventually left the home on his own, DeMars said.

“They said, ‘House 16699, come out with your hands up! This is the sheriff’s department!” Gross said, adding that it lasted at least an hour.

After further investigation, Jones was arrested on charges of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and probation violation. He was booked into the county jail in Bend and was held without bail on the probation violation charge.

“There is no danger to the public and no additional suspects are being sought,” Davis said.

Unconfirmed police scanner reports indicated the SOT team brought in its heavy armored vehicle and negotiators during the incident, which was over by about 5 a.m.