LAKE CITY, Fla. – The Columbia County SWAT team arrived Thursday morning at an apartment on SW Dexter Circle after a woman called police reporting her estranged husband threatened to kill her and then commit suicide.
Officials said 69-year-old Luis A. Rivera had threatened the woman. Officer Michael DelCastillo arrived at the woman's location and listened as she called Rivera back.
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Rivera told the woman again while on speakerphone he was going to kill her and then commit suicide, authorities said.
Officers approached Rivera's apartment, and were able to speak to and see him briefly before he forced the front door shut on the officers. After repeated attempts to get Rivera to come out peacefully, the CCSO SWAT team was requested.
Neighboring apartments were evacuated before the SWAT team made entry into the apartment and took Rivera into custody without incident. During a sweep of the apartment no firearms were found.
According to his wife, Rivera does have a history of mental illness. Due to Rivera's state of mind, he was placed under Baker Act and delivered to Meridian for observation.
Since the incident was a domestic violence call, charges have been forwarded to the State Attorney's Office for review.