ANDERSON, Calif. – A tense standoff ended peacefully on Thursday when police arrested 35-year-old Zachary Gibbins after he allegedly threatened to kill his mother and her dog with a knife. The incident took place in the 1300 block of Third Street in Anderson, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
At around 2:25 p.m., officers arrived to find Gibbins’ mother a safe distance away from the residence. Investigating further, police developed probable cause to arrest Gibbins for various violent crimes involving the use of a weapon. The situation escalated when officers, with assistance from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, set up a perimeter and tried to get Gibbins to surrender. However, Gibbins repeatedly attempted to flee the scene before retreating back inside the home.
The standoff escalated as Gibbins barricaded himself in the attic, and officers breached the back door of the residence to make contact. Gibbins reportedly expressed a desire for officers to shoot him, prompting the involvement of a negotiations team. After several attempts to communicate, Gibbins broke through the house siding, climbed onto the roof, and eventually into a nearby tree. Using de-escalation techniques, officers were able to persuade him to surrender peacefully.
Gibbins was arrested and booked on multiple charges, including resisting arrest, elder and dependent adult abuse, brandishing a weapon, vandalism, criminal threats, robbery, residential burglary, and burglary. The situation has highlighted the critical role of police negotiations and de-escalation tactics in resolving violent confrontations.