An Anchorage man was arrested following a standoff with police which lasted for several hours Friday morning.

Anchorage Police responded to the 200 block of East 120th Avenue just before 2:30 this morning, after police received a 911 call from a man who stated he had been outside on the balcony smoking a cigarette with a friend when they were approached by a male who brandished a weapon at them.

Prior to the brandishing, one of the men told police they had been contacted by a female stating that she had been kicked out of her apartment by her boyfriend. At some time during this contact, the suspect approaches the two men, brandishes the weapon, and escorts the female back to the apartment.

Officers arrived and attempted to make contact by knocking on the apartment door but no one answered although movement could be heard inside the residence. Officers worried that the female was being forbidden to answer the door and feared for her safety; the standoff began.

At just before 4:00 a.m., the decision was made to initiate a SWAT callout. In addition to SWAT, negotiators were also called to the scene in an attempt to communicate with the suspect and female. All attempts at making contact were unsuccessful. Because of the potential danger to other residents in the complex, some of the neighboring units were evacuated. At just before 8:00 a.m., members of the SWAT team made entry into the residence and found the two inside.

Justin Swanner, 31, was arrested and charged with two counts of third degree assault. He was remanded to the Anchorage Jail. His bail was set at $10,000 cash/corporate plus court approved third party custodian. Swanner will be arraigned today at Anchorage Jail Court at 2:30 p.m.

The investigation continues and additional charges may be forthcoming.

Source: Police Department