GC Police arrest suspect after hotel standoff

Garden City, KS(westernkansasnews.com) Tuesday May 8 at 3:15 p.m Garden City Police responded to the 600 block of N 8th St. for a reported auto theft. A police report was taken, and officers were unable to locate the stolen vehicle.

Later in the evening at 10:28 p.m. officers located the stolen car traveling south in the 2000 block of N Main St. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle.

Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was allegedly stolen by Austin Roth, 23, and Roth was at the Dusty Trail Hotel (2808 N Taylor Plaza). Police had been trying to locate Roth on other prior criminal investigations for burglary, forgeries, and thefts.

Officers responded to the hotel and located Roth in room 216. Roth refused to exit the hotel room and surrender to police and began to barricade himself in the hotel room. The one occupant in the room with Roth was able to exit before Roth began barricading himself in the room. Officers attempted to negotiate with Roth.

It was learned that Roth was possibly in possession of a handgun, knives, and pepper spray. The Garden City/Finney County SWAT team responded to assist.

During negotiations, Roth continued to fortify his position in the room and began to cut through walls and the ceiling in attempts to escape. He also called 911 to report shots fired calls in the area of 4th and Mary St. in an attempt to get Officers to leave the hotel.

After approximately 2 ½ hours negotiators’ were able to get Roth to surrender to police. He was arrested without incident.

Damage to the hotel room was estimated at $1,000.

Roth was arrested and lodged in the Finney County Jail and could face the possible charges of Theft, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Falsely Reporting a Crime, Criminal Damage, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.