Standoff at Boulder Highway apartment ends after police deploy ‘tactical devices’

By Jackie Valley

Published Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 10:47 a.m.

Updated Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 6:16 p.m.

A burglary suspect who this morning barricaded himself in his apartment was found hiding under a large aquarium after a Metro SWAT team deployed “tactical devices” in a successful bid to end the standoff.

Devon Cooper, 33, Las Vegas, was arrested around 11:40 a.m. today after a three-hour standoff, police said.

Cooper was arrested on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, battery on a police officer with substantial bodily harm, evading a police officer, destruction of the property of another, conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery with a deadly weapon, police said.

Additional charges may be filed against Cooper, police said.

Shortly before the standoff ended a loud, booming noises could be heard outside an evacuated apartment complex at Boulder Highway and Sandhill Road, where the Cooper was holed up.

Officer Bill Cassell, Metro spokesman, said police deployed several of the devices. A SWAT team then entered the apartment, located Cooper under a large aquarium and took him into custody “without significant injury,” Cassell said. No officers were injured, he said.

Cassell would not specify the “tactical devices” used.

Cooper was wanted in a string of crimes that started Saturday with an attempted burglary at a big-box store near Washington Avenue and Buffalo Drive, Cassell said.

Police said security officers saw Cooper and his girlfriend, Christine Suzanne Gulick, 38, fleeing the store’s parking lot in a stolen pickup truck before patrol officers arrived.

On Sunday, Cooper was believed to be the driver of a stolen motorcycle found near downtown Las Vegas. Cooper had fled the area prior to an officer’s arrival. Gulick, a passenger on that motorcycle, was arrested on counts of possession of burglary tools and carrying a concealed weapon, Cassell said.

Cooper evaded police again Monday as officers attempted to stop him in the northwest valley, where he was seen driving a stolen pickup truck, Cassell said. Officers chose not to pursue him when he fled that time, citing public-safety concerns.

On Tuesday, shortly after Gulick’s release, the hunt for Cooper moved to the northeast valley, where officers spotted him driving a stolen truck near Lake Mead Boulevard and Pecos Road, Cassell said. As officers attempted to stop Cooper, he rammed three patrol vehicles and fled, Cassell said. Officers were not injured.

Information led police to set up surveillance about 7 a.m. Thursday at the Sandhill Apartments, 3000 S. Sandhill Road, where they believed Cooper and Gulick were was staying, Cassell said. Those apartments are near Boulder Highway.

An hour and a half later, police observed Cooper and Gulick in the complex and attempted to take them into custody. At that point, Gulick was arrested but Cooper retreated to the apartment and the standoff began.

During the standoff, police closed Boulder Highway from Sandhill to East Desert Inn Road, and the apartment complex was evacuated.

Cassell said Cooper had a long history of criminal activity, including convictions for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, obstructing a police officer, and battery/domestic violence with a deadly weapon. Police believed Cooper was armed.

Gulick’s criminal history includes battery of a police officer with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and malicious destruction of private property, Cassell said.

Sun Staff Reporter Gregan Wingert contributed to this report.