MESA COUNTY, Colo - Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Kelsten Chessani, 28, after an hours-long standoff this afternoon inside an apartment at the Racquet Club Apartments (2915 Orchard Ave).
Chessani had several active warrants for his arrest including a felony warrant out of the Grand Junction Police Department.
When deputies with the Street Crimes Unit attempted to contact Chessani in the apartment complex parking lot earlier this afternoon, he took off running and barricaded himself inside an apartment.
Deputies assisted two people inside the apartment safely outside, but Chessani refused to come out.
Believed to be armed, the combined Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Junction Police Department SWAT Team were called in to assist.
Residents in the apartment building were evacuated as a precaution. Residents in the surrounding area were asked to shelter in place. Nislely Elementary School and Bookcliff Middle School were placed into shelter in place as a precaution. Students already released from school at Bookcliff Middle School were escorted safely out of the area by deputies. The shelter in place has since been lifted.
Multiple loud hail commands ordering Chessani to exit the residence were given and he refused to comply with deputies’ instructions. A search warrant was obtained to enter the apartment. Ultimately, gas was deployed into the apartment and Chessani surrendered. Chessani was arrested without further incident.
No injuries were reported. Charges related to today incident are currently being investigated.
