Ax-wielding N.M. man is being evaluated after hours-long standoff

An hours-long standoff started when a man was seen swinging an ax and acting erratically Tuesday morning in Tortugas, N.M., deputies said.

A neighbor called 911 after seeing the 28-year-old man swinging an ax toward the ground. The neighbor said the man also pointed what he thought was a gun.

When members of the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department Special Response Team arrived about 8 a.m., the unidentified allegedly barricaded himself and refused to come out of a home on the 600 block of Renteria Street.

After securing the area, deputies made several attempts to communicate with the man, who eventually surrendered about 12:30 p.m. He was taken into custody without incident.

Deputies searched the home. They said no firearm was recovered.

No charges are being filed at this time. The man was taken to an area facility for evaluation.