AUBURN, Maine — A standoff that started Monday afternoon on Gillander Avenue in Auburn ended Tuesday morning with a suspect in custody.
Daryan Saunders, 47 of Auburn surrendered peacefully around 10:15 a.m., after a nearly 21-hour standoff, Auburn police said in a news release. He has been charged with the following:
- Elevated aggravated assault, class B
- Criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, class C
- Aggravated reckless conduct, class C
- Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, class C
- Criminal mischief, class D
- Creating a police standoff, class E
Auburn police were called to the area of 30 Gillander Ave. at about 2 p.m. Monday for a report of a gunshot being fired at a passing vehicle. Responding officers determined the caller and the suspect who was later identified as Saunders were known to each other and had been involved in an online feud that reportedly escalated into threats, the release stated.
The caller reported he had driven by Saunders’ house shortly after Saunders had given him the address. When the caller drove by Saunders’ house, Saunders allegedly fired a single gunshot from inside his home, striking the vehicle, police said.
Auburn officers closed nearby roads and established a perimeter around the property, evacuating nearby residents who were in immediate danger and advising others to shelter in place.
Auburn police said they made several attempts to contact him by phone and by using a loudspeaker, but he would not respond. The Maine State Police Tactical and Crisis Negotiation teams were called to assist with what had by that time turned into a barricaded situation. Throughout the course of the evening, Saunders fired rounds at law enforcement, according to police.
Neighbors said they were either told to evacuate or shelter-in-place.
Becky Dacus lives across the street from Saunders and said she stayed at a friend's house down the road.
"It was a really bad night with bullhorns every 45 minutes and flashing lights the whole time," Dacus said. "I feel sorry for the whole family... this was pretty horrendous."
Dacus said Saunders lived alone in the home that was given to him by his mother. She said Saunders has been in trouble numerous times before by police but this was the most dramatic scene.
"I feel sad for his mother because she is going to have a mess to clean up," Dacus said. "We didn't sleep well at night."
Dacus said the shot fired from Saunders to the person driving by could have hit her home if Saunders missed.
"It scared me," she said.
Saunders' criminal history is extensive, with his first entry with Auburn police in 1994 for disorderly conduct. Saunders was charged with assault in 2004, criminal mischief and terrorizing in 2005, operating under the influence in 2011, and domestic violence in 2016.
Saunders was prohibited from owning a gun.
Park Avenue reopened to all traffic around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Gillander Avenue and Gamage Avenue reopened, allowing all affected residents to return to their homes.
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