Police: Standoff ends with man's suicide

CLOVIS -- A standoff with Clovis police ended with a 36-year-old man committing suicide early Wednesday morning, police said.

Jimmy Mondragon was found dead in a basement about five hours after police were called to the 1400 block of South Lea Street in reference to a man using a chain saw to cut a mailbox and the screen door of a residence.

A police news release said Mondragon had threatened suicide before disappearing into a home in the 1100 block of South Lea. Mondragon told police he had rifles, but the news release did not say how Mondragon had killed himself.

According to the news release:

At 5:17 p.m. on Tuesday, officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of South Lea. The caller reported a man identified as Mondragon "had walked up to his porch, armed with a machete."

Officers contacted Mondragon, who denied knowledge of the event.

Then at 10 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called back to the 1400 block of South Lea Street in reference to Mondragon. "On this occasion, the caller reported Jimmy Mondragon had used a chainsaw to cut into a mailbox, cut into a front screen door of a residence (the homeowner feared for their safety), and a passing vehicle (the driver tried to flee, but his truck was impacted by the chainsaw)."

Officers located Mondragon in the 1100 block of South Lea. "Mondragon first approached Officers while in possession of the chainsaw, then fled into a home."

The police Special Weapons and Tactics Team and the Crisis Negotiations Unit were activated. A crisis negotiator spoke to Mondragon via cell phone and "Mondragon yelled at Officers from the residence. During contact with Mondragon, he stated he would ‘kill’ himself, and also stated he would kill Officers, claiming he had an AK47 and AR15 rifles."

Mondragon ceased contact with the negotiator at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday. At 1:49 a.m., "SWAT breached the front door of the residence. Irritating gas was deployed into the home, but still there was no reaction from Mondragon."

Then at 2:58 a.m., SWAT entered the residence. Officers forced a basement door open and deployed more gas.

"When there was no reaction, Officers entered the basement. Officers discovered Jimmy Mondragon, had taken his own life."