December 16, 2022 |
A Rawlins man with an outstanding arrest warrant was taken into custody Tuesday night after a traffic stop resulted in a standoff with police.
Virgil Hubert Matthews was charged with terrorist threats after he produced what appeared to be an improvised explosive device and refused to exit his vehicle.
At 9:30 p.m. on December 13th, Rawlins PD stopped a vehicle, on the east side of the city, owned by a wanted man. The suspect refused to surrender and brandished what appeared to be a bomb. Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward described the event.
Pictured above: Photos courtesy Rawlins Police Department.
Chief Ward said the suspect, Virgil Matthews, was wanted for bond revocation stemming from a charge of “strangulation of a household member,” which occurred during a previous domestic violence event.
With the suspect threatening officers, Rawlins PD cordoned off the area. Chief Ward said other agencies began to arrive on the scene.
When it became clear negotiations were not working, Chief Ward said SWAT and bomb squads were called in from the next county.
After the six-hour standoff, Matthews was taken to the Carbon County Jail where Chief Ward said he faces a litany of charges. Thankfully, the suspect’s bomb was fake.
Rawlins resident Tiffany Edlund, who works at a hotel near the scene, said she witnessed the majority of the event. Edlund described what she saw.
A flashbang is a type of grenade used to stun and disorient a suspect with a burst of light and a loud explosion. While considered non-lethal, when used in an enclosed space, the concussive blast can be fatal. The Rawlins police chief said he could not confirm such a device was used, but it wouldn’t be unusual if it had.
While Edlund and her boyfriend watched from inside of the hotel they also monitored the event using a police scanner. Edlund said she overheard that Matthews had tossed a letter from his vehicle.
Edlund said nothing much happened after Matthews threw the note to the officers. After several hours of waiting, Edlund said she saw law enforcement vehicles converge at the fast-food restaurant on Plaza Street.
Edlund said, about 20 minutes after law enforcement arrived at the restaurant, they swarmed the suspect’s location. It was at that time, Edlund said a flashbang grenade was used on Matthews.
Edlund said officers waited about 15 minutes and used another flashbang on Matthews. Afterwards, Edlund said most of the police and first responders left the scene.
Once most of the responding officers left the scene, Edlund said her boyfriend witnessed the suspect leave the vehicle already in handcuffs. Police Chief Ward would not confirm what happened. He said he was unable to discuss tactics. All Ward was able to say was that Matthews exited the van and was taken into custody.
Edlund said she had met the suspect a few months prior to the event while she was helping an incarcerated friend. She said Matthews helped them transport a motorcycle.
No one was injured during the six-hour standoff. Matthews was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbon County to be checked out. He was quickly released and taken to the Carbon County Jail. Chief Ward said he was thankful nobody was hurt.
The tense and dangerous event ended with the peaceful surrender of the suspect.
