Standoff ends; SW Redmond assault suspect surrenders

(Update: Assault suspect identified, jailed; police search home)

Police searched for and attempted to arrest a suspect in a reported assault on a woman in southwest Redmond that involved at least one gunshot Friday afternoon. The incident led to a lockout at nearby Obsidian Middle School, followed by the evacuation of all students to a nearby elementary school. Police surrounded a home and negotiated the suspect’s surrender in the late afternoon.

Redmond police Lt. Curtis Chambers identified the suspect as Steven Arce, 29.

“The Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, or the CERT Team, responded to assist us with this investigation,”Chambers told reporters. “Their negotiators were invaluable in speaking with Mr. Arce and with Mr. Arce’s family, and negotiators were able to get Mr. Arce to come out of the residence on his own.and give himself up to law enforcement.”

Arce was booked into the Deschutes County Jail around 8:30 p.m. on initial charges of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree menacing and coercion. Bail was set at $75,000.

In the early afternoon, Redmond School District officials notified Obsidian students’ parents by email that the exterior doors were locked and all students brought inside after a call from police about the incident. During a lockout, classes inside continue, but the building perimeter is secured, with all outside doors locked until the situation is resolved.

“We advise you not to drop off or pick up your student … until you hear from us,” the note to parents said.

Then, shortly before 1:30 p.m., parents got a new message, that the school was “being evacuated due to a police threat in the neighborhood on Obsidian Avenue.” They were urged to pick up their children at nearby Lynch Elementary on Kalama Avenue “as soon as possible.”

“If you are unable to do so, please know that your students are safe and being supervised, and busing will run as regularly scheduled,” the district added.

Unconfirmed police scanner reports indicated a woman had called 911 around 12:20 p.m. to report an assailant had struck her on the head with a handgun and shot her car’s tire out. There were later, also unconfirmed reports more than one shot was fired, though no reports of any other injuries.

Numerous police converged on the area to interview witnesses and search for the suspect, while streets in the area were blocked off.

“The suspect is believed to still be in the area but contained,” a joint police/school district release said shortly before 3 p.m, noting that Obsidian Avenue was shut down and the public was being asked to avoid the area.

A nearby day care also reportedly sheltered in place until police could escort them safely from the area. Later, about 70 youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Redmond were being moved by school bus to Lynch Elementary for parent pick-up.

Police surrounded a home along Obsidian Avenue where Arce was believed to be. Two armored vehicles were brought to the scene to assist in the situation.

Around 4:15 p.m., police said Arce came out of the house on Obsidian Avenue, across the street from the school. He surrendered to police, who brought him out to the street and placed him in handcuffs, then into a patrol car.

Police kept some roads closed for several hours as they executed a search warrant and searched the home, collecting evidence.

Online court records indicate Arce was arrested in September 2013 on charges of second-degree burglary and fourth-degree assault, in July 2014 for DUII and refusal to take a Breathalyzer test, in December 2014 on menacing and disorderly conduct charges, and last August on a criminal charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Police are expected to release more details later Friday, and we’ll be updating this story online and on NewsChannel 21 First at Ten on Fox.