Bend motel guest in custody after threats to staff, standoff

A southeast Bend motel guest called the front desk Wednesday afternoon, said he had a gun and was on his way to kill them, prompting the evacuation of guests and a major police call-out, including the region’s SWAT team, officers said. He was taken into custody about three hours later, and no weapon was found, police said.

“Today at about 2 p.m. Bend police responded to a hotel guest that was reportedly armed,” said Lt. Jason Maniscalco.

Maniscalco said police responded to the Super 8 Motel at 1275 Southeast Third Street on a report of a guest reportedly saying he was armed with a gun and threatening staff.

Maniscalco said the staff originally called 911 dispatchers, saying Todd F. Pirochta, 50, had called down to them from his hotel room, “told staff that he was armed and he was on his way to kill them.”

“We had a situation where he made contact with the front desk and actually threatened one of the employees. He actually contacted 911 himself,” said motel Manager Belinda Liskh.

Maniscalco said officers arrived “and determined this to be a serious threat.”

That prompted the hotel’s evacuation and brought out dozens more police, including the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team and its armored vehicles.

“We just did everything we could do to cooperate with police and get everyone out safely, and make sure the community and our guests are safe,” Liskh said.

Bystanders and motel guests waited in suspense. One onlooker was arrested after crossing into the crime scene.

Around 5:15 p.m. – shortly after police broke out the motel room’s window – Pirochta was taken into custody without further incident.

A search was conducted and no weapon was found, Maniscalco said.

There were no injuries and officers pulled down the crime-scene tape and left the scene before 6 p.m., allowing the motel to resume business.

Pirochta faces charges of first-degree disorderly conduct, menacing, interfering with a police officer and telephonic harassment.

Police said Pirochta was not from Bend, but his hometown was not available. Online court records find no previous charges in Oregon against Pirochta.

The Bend Police Department was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Redmond Police Department, Deschutes County Behavioral Health, Prineville Police Department and Bend Fire Department “to safely and quickly resolve this incident,” Maniscalco said.