SE Bend police standoff ends as two people surrender, one a fugitive arrested on a statewide warrant
Barney Lerten
(Update: Adding video, More information about suspect, arrest)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Armed Bend Police officers and the region’s SWAT team surrounded a southeast Bend apartment in a standoff Wednesday afternoon, calling on a fugitive inside to come out with their hands up or force could be used. Two people eventually came out and were detained, one of whom was arrested.
Around 2:45 p.m., Bend Police learned that Brach Addison Roberts, a 32-year-old Bend resident, had an active statewide felony warrant and was reportedly in possession of an illegal firearm, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.
Officers determined that Roberts was in an apartment at the Old Mill Apartments at SE Third Street and McKinley Avenue, Miller said. The Central Oregon Emergency Response Team was activated, and McKinley Avenue was blocked off between Third and Fourth streets as officers tried to contact Roberts, using a loudspeaker to hail him in an effort to get him out of the apartment.
Bend Police advised the public by social media around 4:40 p.m. of the large police presence and road closure, asking people to avoid the area. Two armored vehicles were on the scene before the standoff ended.
Ultimately, officers negotiated Roberts out of the apartment, and he was taken into custody without injury or incident around 5:35 p.m. Roberts was taken to the Deschutes County Jail on his felony warrant. Jail records Wednesday night showed Roberts being held on $75,000 bail for a probation violation.
A KTVZ News crew on scene watched as a man and woman in the apartment surrendered and were taken into custody with their hands up and without apparent incident. They were handcuffed and surrounded by officers with guns drawn and wearing body armor.
Miller told KTVZ News the woman was briefly detained, but only the man was arrested. Soon, the street reopened, while some police remained on scene to search the apartment. Miller told us later they did not find a gun on the suspect or in their search of the apartment.
A viewer earlier shared a video in which an officer could be heard using the loudspeaker, telling someone to come out with their hands in the air and with no weapons in their hands.
“If you don’t comply, force may be used against you,” the officer said, also advising a K-9 team could be deployed and munitions could be used – and that someone inside already was under arrest. “We know you’re in there.”
Last year, court records show Roberts pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and third-degree escape and got a 30-day jail term.
He pleaded guilty in 2023 to fentanyl delivery, was sentenced to 15 days in jail and 18 months probation, and a $75,000 bench warrant was issued last fall for violating probation by failing to report to his probation officer as directed.
Robert also pleaded guilty in 2016 to fleeing or attempting to elude police and in 2009 to second-degree assault.