Volusia Sheriff's Office requests seizure of firearms, ammo belonging to standoff suspect

Katie Kustura, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read
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The Volusia Sheriff's Office on Friday filed a risk protection order, sometimes called a "red flag" law, requesting that law enforcement be allowed to temporarily seize firearms belonging to the suspect in Thursday's armed standoff, records show.

The sheriff's office also contacted the Secret Service after discovering "a significant amount of counterfeit money and printing equipment" inside the home near Port Orange, sheriff's officials said in a news release.

Curtis Lapiere Jr., 56, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer following an hours-long standoff that began that morning.

In addition to the handgun deputies accused Lapiere of pointing at them, officers found a rifle, shotgun shells, a 9mm magazine and ammunition, sheriff's officials said.

A still image from a Volusia deputy's body camera shows Curtis Lapiere Jr. surrendering in the driveway of a home near Port Orange on Southfork Court on Thursday, May 26. Lapiere is accused of pointing a gun at deputies who were trying to evict the suspect at the request of his father.
A still image from a Volusia deputy's body camera shows Curtis Lapiere Jr. surrendering in the driveway of a home near Port Orange on Southfork Court on Thursday, May 26. Lapiere is accused of pointing a gun at deputies who were trying to evict the suspect at the request of his father.

Florida's "red flag" law "is intended to temporarily prevent individuals who are at high risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms or ammunition by allowing law enforcement officers to obtain a court order when there is demonstrated evidence that a person poses a significant danger to himself or herself or others, including significant danger as a result of a mental health crisis or violent behavior," according to the state statute.

Firearms in Volusia County: Volusia a Florida leader in gun seizures

Deputies came to the home on Southfork Court to serve an eviction notice to Lapiere, at his father's request, records show.

Lapiere refused to open the door, but deputies gained entry after receiving help from a locksmith.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters Thursday that when deputies made it to the second floor of the house, they found Lapiere lying on a bed, pointing a gun in their direction.

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood speaks with reporters following a standoff with a man armed with a gun near Port Orange on Thursday, May 26.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood speaks with reporters following a standoff with a man armed with a gun near Port Orange on Thursday, May 26.

Negotiators, the SWAT team, bomb unit, drone team and Air-One, the department's helicopter, responded to the scene, sheriff's officials said. Officials, with assistance from a mental health worker, spent five hours trying to negotiate with Lapiere to no avail.

Lapiere surrendered shortly before 3:30 p.m. after officers used a water cannon robot to force open the door to the house and fire tear gas inside, Chitwood said.

Lapiere is being held without bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail, records show.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia sheriff wants man's guns seized after standoff near Port Orange