Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Andrew James Lund, of Thatcher, was booked into jail on weapons charges after allegedly shooting a firearm in close proximity to an officer and others Wednesday night.
Civil standby goes awry
By Jon Johnson
THATCHER – A Thatcher man was arrested and booked into the Graham County Jail late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning after allegedly firing a weapon in close proximity to an officer and other people.
Andrew James Lund, 32, was booked on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon, and discharging a firearm within town limits.
According to a press release from Thatcher Police Chief Shaffen Woods, an officer was initially dispatched at about 9:46 p.m. to an address near the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Highway 70 to perform a civil standby for a couple at a nearby residence. Officers are often called to such duty when couples are going through a divorce or have difficulties with child exchanges, etcetera.
According to the release, for reasons unknown to police at this time, Lund exited a neighboring residence at about 9:52 p.m. and fired two shots from a firearm. At that time, the officer believed Lund was shooting at him.
Authorities from the Safford, and Pima Police Departments then responded to the area, along with deputies from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and a perimeter was set around the residence Lund retreated to.
After a short time, Lund responded to commands over a loudspeaker and exited the residence into custody without further incident. He was then booked into jail. There were no injuries reported, however, a heavy police presence was in the area from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., according to the release.
“We would like to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to the agencies listed above that responded to assist us with this situation and helped bring it to a safe resolution,” Woods said in the release. “We greatly appreciate them!”
The investigation is ongoing.
