Cops and courts: Tear gas puts end to standoff

A standoff Wednesday night at a Clovis home ended when police used tear gas to flush out the occupants, resulting in three arrests, according to Clovis police.

Around 7:30 p.m. officers attempting to serve a search warrant began trying to get occupants to come out of a home in the 1120 block of Sheldon Street, a press release said.

Officers were attempting to locate Shannon Jackson, 28, wanted on charges including aggravated battery and a felon in possession of a firearm, the release said.

Police attempted to negotiate using a bullhorn in an effort to get the occupants out of the house for about two hours. When all peaceful efforts were exhausted, negotiators deployed tear gas into the home, forcing the occupants to exit, the release said.

According to the release, Jackson, Chivon Williams, 26, and Thomas Kirven, 18, exited the house and were arrested. Each was charged with resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

New Clovis police officers who graduated from the police academy Wednesday will begin on-the-job training, according to police officials.

Brent Aguilar, Josh Parkin, Daron Roach and Johnny Zamora graduated after completing a five-month training program at the Southeastern New Mexico Regional Police Academy in Hobbs, a press release said.

Roach was recognized at the ceremony for achieving perfect scores in emergency driving and firearms courses.

The four will be paired with field-training officers and begin patrol duties as they complete the final portion of their training on the streets of Clovis, the release said.

New officers undergo nine months of training.

Sending a police recruit to the academy costs about $4,000, according to Clovis Police Lt. Patrick Whitney. He said $1,500 of that is paid through state funding and the remainder with city funds.

Certified law enforcement officers are expected to be recruited to fill four vacant positions, Whitney said.