SWAT incident at CDA apartment ends in arrest of 57-year-old

A 57-year-old Coeur d’Alene man was arrested around noon Saturday in Coeur d’Alene after a standoff with police in an apartment complex near Northwest Boulevard.

John F. Ober was booked into the Kootenai County jail for two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated assault and one count of domestic battery, police said.

The incident started early Saturday with a knife fight in an apartment on the 1200 block of Emma Avenue.

The suspect fled and climbed into the attic in an effort to elude police. Because police were told Ober had explosives and an automatic weapon, the Spokane bomb squad was called and police eventually took Ober into custody around noon without further incident.

Police said at 4:30 a.m. officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the W. Emma Avenue apartments. Police said another man, who was not named, was at an apartment with Ober and his wife, whose name was not released by police. An argument ensued and Ober became violent. Ober allegedly swung a knife at his wife and the man, causing minor injuries to both of them before fleeing from police.

Ober later re-entered the apartment and barricaded himself in the attic, Sgt. Jared Reneau said.

“Officers received information that John possibly had an automatic rifle and explosives with him,” Reneau said.

Several nearby apartments were evacuated and around 7 a.m., Northwest Boulevard was blocked. A Coeur d’Alene police and the Kootenai County sheriff’s SWAT team arrived and the Spokane County’s EOD Team — or bomb squad — was called.

After several hours, SWAT officers shot tear gas canisters into the attic and Ober surrendered.

“Officers worked to safely bring Ober outside and he was taken into custody without further incident,” Reneau said.

Ober’s wife and the other victim of the alleged assault were treated by medical personnel on scene and released, police said.

Police didn’t say if firearms or incendiaries were seized when Ober was arrested.