The Antelope Valley Times

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Lancaster man arrested after standoff

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[Image courtesy LASD]

LANCASTER – A sheriff’s SWAT team Wednesday arrested a 48-year-old man after an hours-long standoff, authorities said.

The incident began around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, when deputies went to the 200 block of East Avenue J-12 on a report of vandalism involving William Dean Nickel, who had been released on bond after being arrested for allegedly shooting into an inhabited dwelling, according to a news release by the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The deputies learned that there was “an ongoing investigation of a neighbor dispute between the victim and the suspect,” the news release states. “At arrival, they discovered the bonded suspect had a history of having weapons, (and) out of an abundance of caution for the safety of all involved, Special Weapons Team personnel were requested.”

[Image courtesy LASD]
The sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau responded early Wednesday morning. Crisis negotiators also were sent. The surrounding homes were evacuated, and Joshua Elementary School was closed and students and faculty were diverted to El Dorado Elementary School.

“It was learned that the suspect might not be in the location, as originally thought, and that he might be in his motorhome,” the news release states. “Deputies observed the suspect at the cross streets of Sierra Highway and West Avenue N, Palmdale, while patrolling areas he frequents.”

“After several hours and continuous verbal contact by SEB, and Crisis Negotiations Team members, the suspect complied and surrendered to deputies,” the sheriff’s news release states.

Nickel was arrested on suspicion of intimidating a witness or victim, making criminal threats, and vandalism, according to the sheriff’s news release.

The shooting that triggered Nickel’s previous arrest occurred in August of 2017, the sheriff’s department reported.

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7 comments for "Lancaster man arrested after standoff"

  1. SWAT is used many times as intimidation. It puts fear in ones mind and is a great tool that allows people not to get shot. So great job LASD using all resources that are available. Id rather be surrounded by a SWAT team than a local sheriff that’s not use to standoff situations. Plus if they didn’t come they would have just been in LA target practising. So for all you who think it was a waist of money at least they saved you a few dollars that day not waisting bullets.

  2. Our sheriff’s department here in the AV is dirty and has been for years. So of course they’re ​going to go all out on BS and will happily do so again.

  4. Once again LACSD overplays their hand and makes mountains of molehills.
    Who cares what it costs.

    • Hey, if they didn’t MAKE opportunities to play with their tanks they might not have any opportunities to play with their tanks.

  5. Tax dollars hard at work dispatching swat for vandalism offender lmao damn these sheriff’s have it rough