A tense standoff Tuesday night in Augusta County ended peacefully thanks in part to the involvement of a crisis negotiations team.
Just after 5:30 p.m., the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office responded to Cold Springs Road in Stuarts Draft after several 911 calls reported a man who was yelling and cursing at passing vehicles. Some of the calls reported that the man was armed with a firearm and threatening to shoot anyone who came onto his property.
When deputies arrived on scene, Evan Orion Smyres, 41, barricaded himself inside his residence.
After interviewing community members, the Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Smyres.
The crisis team, a SWAT team and a K9 team were dispersed to the scene to bring the matter to a safe resolution. A crisis team is usually engaged in incidents that are suspected to involve mental health or substance abuse.
Smyres was taken into custody without further incident, according to the ACSO.
He has been charged with the following offenses:
- Two counts of §18.2-282 – Brandishing a firearm
- One count of §18.2-119 – Trespassing on private property without authority
He is currently being held without bond at the Middle River Regional Jail. A bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m.
Online court records show only one previous guilty charge against Smyres for intoxication in public, a Class 4 misdemeanor, in May 2023 in Waynesboro.
Anyone who encountered or had any interaction with Smyres in the Cold Springs Road area on Tuesday is asked to contact the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 245-5333.
The incident remains under investigation.
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Crystal Graham
