Male arrested after several hour standoff

HAYDEN — A Hayden man was arrested early Sunday following a four-hour standoff with law officers.

Mark R. Spurgeon, 59, was transported to Kootenai Health for an evaluation and then booked into the Kootenai County jail on charges of domestic battery felony and attempted strangulation, according to a press release from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.

The release said that about 8:35 p.m. Saturda, KCSO deputies responded to 8967 Runkle Road for a report of a domestic dispute between a female and male.

"Upon contact with the victim, it was learned the male had physically battered her and attempted to strangle her until she was able to get free and go to a neighbor’s residence," the release said.

Deputies attempted to contact the male, who initially came out of the residence but then went back and barricaded himself into the house. Several attempts were made via PA announcements and phone calls to have him exit the residence, the release said.

The Kootenai County Joint Agency SWAT Team was activated as well as AIR 1 from Spokane, who was already in the air on patrols.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Spurgeon and he was taken into custody about 12:50 a.m.