A 60-year-old man was arrested without incident after a disturbing 911 call prompted a swift response from deputies in El Paso County, Colorado.
On July 21, dispatchers received a 911 call with no one speaking directly, but shouting could be heard in the background. According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), the call included threats such as “I will kill you,” “Let the gun go,” and “I will blow your brains out.”
Deputies traced the call to a home in the 7800 block of Parsonage Lane, east of Cimarron Hills. Upon arrival, they found a handgun lying in the street in front of the house. As deputies set up a perimeter, two individuals exited the home and informed them that a man—identified as Troy Releford—was still inside and had access to more weapons.
Deputies located Releford sitting on the front porch. EPSO said he initially refused to comply with commands, but officers used calm communication and de-escalation strategies to convince him to move to the middle of the driveway, where he sat on a cinder block and was safely taken into custody.
Releford was booked into the El Paso County Jail and faces several charges, including menacing, prohibited use of weapons, and third-degree assault.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal praised the deputies’ handling of the tense situation. “Thanks to my deputies’ disciplined response and their use of de-escalation tactics, a potentially dangerous encounter was resolved safely and without incident,” he said. “These are the outcomes we strive for—where professionalism and restraint lead to peaceful resolutions.”
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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