What could have been a simple warrant arrest turned into a standoff Thursday night.
When Juneau Police Department officers approached James Urbanec outside a Tongass Boulevard home Thursday evening, they told Urbanec that he had an outstanding warrant. The 24-year-old Juneau resident responded by unzipping his jacket and reaching for a handgun, according to a JPD release.
Urbanec — whose warrant was for failing to appear for a change of plea hearing in regards to a misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge — then took off running. He hid in his house for three hours as officers surrounded the building. Looking to not escalate the situation, the officers eventually stood down, deciding to attempt to reach Urbanec the following day. They came again Friday but did not find him.
Friday evening, their opportunity came. At 5:12 p.m. Friday, Urbanec was seen near the Mendenhall Mall. He then left the area on foot. Officers responded to the scene and found Urbanec 20 minutes later on Mendenhall Loop Road near Nancy Street.
The officers arrested Urbanec on two counts of assaulting an officer, one count of resisting arrest and the $100 warrant for failing to appear in court. There were no reported injuries, and Urbanec was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center.
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.