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Craig man arrested after allegedly brandishing Bowie knife, rifle against Moffat County deputies

Eleanor C. Hasenbeck
John Gates
Courtesy photo

CRAIG — Following a standoff with law enforcement that lasted a little more than an hour, a Craig man was arrested and charged with 15 crimes.

Moffat County deputies responded to the home of John Gates, 35, after receiving a report he had struck a family member with a .22 rifle, according to an arrest affidavit.

Gates initially refused to speak with deputies about the incident. He then came out of a small cabin on the property, yelling that he was not going to speak with deputies and insisting he had not done anything.

At this time, deputies were able to get the victim and one other person out of the home. Gates then entered a small shed on the same property.

Gates refused to come out of the building, saying that he would shoot deputies if they approached. He broke a window of the shed and continued to make threats. He then said he had stabbed himself in the abdomen and cut his wrist. Deputies noted he had a 10- to 12-inch Bowie knife in hand, and blood covered his hands and clothing.

Gates said he wanted the deputies to shoot him, because he wasn’t going back to jail.

The deputies called for support from the Craig Police Department.

About 40 minutes after deputies arrived on the scene, Gates emerged from the shed wrapped in a blanket and with the Bowie knife tucked into the waistband of his pants. He said multiple time he wanted to die and for police to shoot him, because he didn’t want to go back jail.

Law enforcement convinced Gates to remove the knife from his waistband. He opened the blanket, and officers saw no other weapons on him. He was then detained without further incident.

Gates was transported to Memorial Regional Health for treatment of his self-inflicted injuries, where he was placed on a mental health hold and kept overnight.

At the hospital, Gates’ blood tested positive for the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine and had a blood alcohol content of .198 ml/dl.

He was transported to the Moffat County Jail the following day.

Gates was charged with two felonies — menacing assault and violation of bail bond conditions — and 13 misdemeanors.

He was charged with harassment, unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, child abuse, two counts of violation of bond conditions and six counts of violating a restraining order.

He is being held without bail at the Moffat County Jail.


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