A Banning man suspected of beating and threatening to kill his wife barricaded himself inside their home, culminating in a standoff with police that ended with him surrendering peacefully, authorities said Tuesday.
Andre Jon Lavoie Jr., 42, was arrested and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on Monday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence and making terrorist threats.
Lavoie is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
According to the Banning Police Department, shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, the suspect was involved in an argument with his spouse, whose identity was not disclosed, at their residence in the 1200 block of North Murray Street, near West Gilman Street.
The victim called 911, alleging Lavoie had attacked her, threatened her with a handgun and tried to prevent her from using her mobile phone to summon help, police spokesman Capt. Brandon Smith said.
By the time patrol officers reached the house, Lavoie had fled, the captain said.
The victim did not require hospitalization.
The following afternoon, the suspect returned to the property, at which point patrol officers were immediately notified and went to the location, according to Smith.
“Officers observed Lavoie in the front yard,” Smith said. “He ran into his residence and refused officers’ commands to exit. They set up a perimeter.”
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were requested to assist during the standoff, which began at about 12:30 p.m. Monday. Smith said that a search warrant was obtained in preparation for forced entry to the house, but a crisis negotiator contacted Lavoie, who was alone in the home, convincing him to surrender without incident at 2:40 p.m.
No one was injured.
Background information on the suspect was unavailable.