‘Parking issue’ leads to Police show of force

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At 11:34 a.m., Page Police, Department of Public Safety and National Park Service responded to an incident near Family Bargain Center at 621 Elm Street in Page. According to the report, a male was threatening a female with a gun. The subject was seen entering the Smoke Shop next door. Multiple law enforcement vehicles were on the scene with weapons drawn, prepared for the worst. Officers cleared people from the area nearby businesses. One officer told this reporter the Chronicle may need to evacuate.

The threat wasn’t as serious as initially reported, According to Page Police, “After speaking with the female, it was determined that the male subject never touched the firearm, it was only visible in his waistband during the confrontation.  The male was upset and yelling at the female over a parking issue.”

The Chronicle spoke with the male involved. He’s a shop owner and said a woman parked in the street in front of his store. Apparently, she was waiting for FedEx to make a shipment. He also said there was no gun. Page Police said there were no witnesses to collaborate the gun claim, but the woman was adamant about seeing one.

The shop owner also said he wasn’t yelling at the woman but being assertive. He wanted her to move her vehicle off the street. He said she was honking the horn, so may have raised his voice to heard.

According to the shop owner, when he saw heavily armed law enforcement surrounding the area, he locked himself inside the store. He told the Chronicle, “I’m not afraid of anyone, but the police.” He was afraid the police would kill him.

Once the situation was understood by police, officers left the scene. They did not make contact with the suspect/store owner, so couldn’t verify if he possessed a gun or not. The shop owner told the Chronicle he didn’t have or own a gun.

The case will be investigated as disorderly conduct.

*This article was updated with new information 12/4/2019