Domestic violence incident in CdA apartment leads to several-hour police standoff

A domestic violence incident in a Coeur d’Alene apartment led to a police standoff that lasted several hours as officers negotiated with the suspect.

Officers responded to the 1200 block of West Emma Avenue for a reported domestic violence stabbing at about 4:30 a.m., according to Coeur d’Alene police.

Victims said John F. Ober, 57, and his wife got into an argument in which Ober began acting irrationally and pulled out a knife, according to police. They said he then charged at his wife while swinging the knife and caused minor injuries to her and another man.

The male victim said Ober followed him out of the apartment, according to police. But he later re-entered and barricaded himself in the attic.

Police learned that Ober could be armed with an automatic rifle and explosives, so officers evacuated several nearby apartments.

Coeur d’Alene police and Kootenai County Sheriff SWAT officers responded, along with a bomb squad from Spokane County.

Officers negotiated with Ober for several hours before deciding to deploy tear gas into the attic, according to police. Ober then surrendered and police took him into custody without further incidents.

Ober was booked into the Kootenai County Jail on suspicion of two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated assault and one count of domestic battery.

Police did not say whether Ober possessed any weapons when he was arrested.

Ober’s wife and the male victim were treated for minor injuries at the scene.