Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Joseph Vigil was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Authorities successfully negotiated a peaceful surrender after a man with a history of violent acts toward officers and others barricaded himself in a shed armed with a handgun.
On Thursday, Aug. 29, Joseph Miguel Vigil, 38, of Safford, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
Officers were dispatched at about 11 p.m. to a residence on 13th Street regarding a domestic situation in which Vigil had reportedly broken several items in the house and then retreated to a shed, where he continued the destruction.
Upon arrival, officers attempted to enter the shed, but it was locked with a deadbolt and the handle was tied off with metal wire.
According to the police report, Vigil was very agitated as he cursed at the police officers. Vigil had also appeared to have poured gasoline and vodka on the ground and was threatening to burn down the shed while holding a propane torch and lighter.
Officers were later informed by the victim that Vigil believed an act of infidelity had occurred and he broke into the house while brandishing two jugs of gasoline and a sledgehammer while threatening destruction. The victim also stated Vigil had a history of methamphetamine use.
A records check showed Vigil was arrested for aggravated assault by SPD in April 2018, and that he had shot himself in his hand in January in which he claimed was an accident. There was also an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misconduct with weapons arrest out of Coconino County but no charges were filed by that county’s prosecution.
At the shed, Vigil reportedly attempted to light the propane torch before suddenly putting it down the torch and striking the shed with a metal pipe. He then stuck his head out a window and yelled at the police, “shoot me”, according to the report. An officer then delivered a dose of pepper spray.
Vigil threatened to burn down the shed with himself in it, but eventually, officers talked him down and he opened the door. He was then taken into custody and transported to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center to be medically cleared for the jail.
A subsequent search of the shed yielded the propane torch with a hose attached to a metal pipe that was broken, a black crossbow without bolts, and a Glock 22 loaded with 15 rounds but none in the chamber. The gun smelled of gasoline but the officers noted they were not sure if Vigil handled it during the standoff. The gun and crossbow were taken for safekeeping “due to the severity of the incident”, the report stated.
After being medically cleared from the jail, Vigil was booked into the jail on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
