Alleged kidnapping suspect taken into custody
Maitland Carpenter, 41, is in custody this evening following a an hours long alleged standoff Friday, Feb. 21.
At about 1 p.m. the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Maitland Carpenter was allegedly holding a person at gunpoint at a residence on Kei Deh Street, located north of Susanville in Lassen County, according to a statement from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office. The initial report was that Carpenter was barricaded in the bedroom of a residence, was armed with a firearm and a knife, and holding an individual against their will.
Deputies responded to the area and established a secure perimeter around the residence, the statement continued, and additional units from the California Highway Patrol, Susanville Police Department, and Cal-Fire responded and assisted with containment. Additional resources were requested from California Highway Patrol Air Operations, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
While maintaining the perimeter, multiple occupants exited the residence where the event was occurring, including the person who had allegedly been held at gunpoint.
Additional residents in the immediate area of the incident were evacuated.
At about 4 p.m., on scene units attempted verbal contact with Carpenter. Communication efforts included the calling of a telephone that he was believed to have in his possession.
At about 6 p.m., tactical units began deploying chemical munitions into the residence, the statement continued. Communication with Carpenter was established and lost multiple times. But he refused to come out and repeatedly made threats to the officers on scene, the statement alleged. At about 6:15 p.m., Carpenter came to the front door of the residence and was taken into custody.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, CDCR, CHP, Cal Fire, Susanville Police Department, Susan River Fire, Janesville Fire, Susanville City Fire, SEMSA, and the Community Church of Susanville for their assistance.
