Suspected burglar arrested after standoff

HARRISON — Police arrested a suspected burglar after a standoff with SWAT.

Justin A. Klauba, 38, of Post Falls, is charged with burglary and two counts of malicious injury to property, both felonies. He is also charged with eluding, a misdemeanor.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 8 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a possible burglary in progress at a Gotham Bay residence.

The homeowner reportedly saw a suspect and vehicle via security cameras.

Police located the suspect vehicle heading toward Highway 97 and attempted to initiate a stop.

The driver — later identified as Klauba — allegedly failed to stop and led police on a chase.

Klauba allegedly stopped his vehicle in the roadway and then rammed a patrol vehicle, disabling it, before continuing toward Highway 97.

Deputies reportedly located Klauba’s vehicle behind a locked gate to another property. Klauba was still in the driver’s seat, police said, and refused to exit the vehicle.

At that time, police said they learned a firearm was missing from the residence.

The Joint Agency SWAT team arrived at the scene to assist.

After an hour-long standoff, police arrested Klauba, who was reportedly injured due to a K-9 bite.

He was evaluated at Kootenai Health before police transported him to jail.

First District Judge Patrick McFadden ordered Thursday that Klauba be held on $25,000 bail.