Man hanged self during CdA standoff

A man found dead Wednesday morning after a nine-hour standoff with Coeur d’Alene police had hanged himself, according to preliminary autopsy results released Thursday.

Kootenai County Coroner Robert West said 24-year-old Nicolas C. Castanon barricaded himself in the bathroom of a duplex and used a dog leash to hang himself from the top rail of the shower.

West said there was no evidence of carbon monoxide in Castanon’s blood and no soot in his lungs, indicating that he died before a fire broke out at the Satre Avenue duplex.

Police Sgt. Christie Wood said Thursday the fire broke out within a minute after police shot tear gas into the home at 2:05 a.m. Wednesday. The fire started on a couch in the living room, Wood said.

Although a loaded AK-47 was also found in the bathroom, the only injuries to Castanon’s body were those consistent with hanging, West said. Superficial burns to the body occurred after he died, West said.

Police went to the duplex where Castanon lived with his girlfriend about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to arrest him on an outstanding warrant from California for violating conditions of his parole.

He was on parole for an attempted murder conviction for his role in a drive-by shooting. He had served time in San Quentin State Prison in California.

Castanon was also a suspect in a June 15 stabbing in downtown Coeur d’Alene, police Lt. Jay Heintz said. The 21-year-old victim, stabbed multiple times, was treated and released from the hospital.

Castanon’s girlfriend and his cousin came out of the home Tuesday evening, but Castanon refused to leave. Police used a loudspeaker to urge him to surrender. Heintz said Castanon never responded. Castanon had barricaded the front door with a full-size freezer, police said Thursday. Earlier reports said he had used a washer and dryer to block the door.

After several hours, the multi-agency Special Response Unit fired tear gas canisters into the duplex to force Castanon out. Wood said the first tear gas rounds and gas grenades – about a dozen – were used just before 11 p.m.

More gas was fired into the home just after 2 a.m., then flames quickly engulfed the duplex.

Idaho State Police Capt. Clark Rollins said in a news release that the gas canisters and grenades have been used in several other instances involving barricaded suspects.

“We have never had one be flammable in the past,” he said. “They are not designed to ignite.”

Investigators say explosions heard during the fire were likely from a small propane tank, some aerosol cans and several rounds of ammunition.

Members of the Special Response Unit entered the duplex as firefighters worked to put out the fire, and they found Castanon’s body in the bathroom.

A suicide note addressed to his girlfriend was recovered in one of the bedrooms. “I am sorry my time is up. You don’t deserve to see or be in it,” Castanon wrote, according to police.

Police said Wednesday they were confident they handled the standoff appropriately. Castanon’s girlfriend and his cousin had told police he was heavily armed and he didn’t want to go back to prison. Castanon’s 77-pound pit bull terrier was shot and killed during the standoff after it came out of the home and attacked a Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy and his police dog, police said.

The police dog, named Brutus, was treated for puncture wounds to his paw and tail and has been OK’d to return to duty.

In addition to the AK-47 assault rifle found in the bathroom, police recovered a Tech-9 submachine gun, a pistol-grip shotgun, a .22 caliber pistol and drug paraphernalia from the home.

A firearm was also found in the glove box of a car parked outside, according to search warrant documents. Three knives were also found in the car.

Heintz said items taken from the duplex are being processed to see if any are connected to the June 15 stabbing. He said neither Castanon’s girlfriend nor cousin are persons of interest in the stabbing or wanted in connection with any crimes.

The apartment was rented to Castanon’s girlfriend, Heintz said. Castanon’s cousin said he did not live in the duplex.

Wood said more information will be released after the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office reviews the case.

“I think that’s probably standard procedure.” Wood said.