Grants Pass SWAT Arrests Felony Fugitive After Tense Three-Hour Standoff

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The Grants Pass Police SWAT team arrested a felony suspect, 51-year-old Barney Clem, yesterday, who had threatened to kill a woman before fleeing into a nuisance house in a bright orange shirt.

After a three-hour standoff, Clem surrendered to SWAT officers and has been charged with multiple crimes. During the search, another man, 36-year-old Bryan Suthann, who parole officers wanted, was also arrested.

Responding to a 911 report of a disturbance at a residence on NE 8th Street yesterday at 10:12 a.m. after a woman was threatened with death with a knife, attempts were made to stab her, and she was sprayed with “Bear Spray,” Grants Pass officers learned from the victim on arrival that the suspect, Clem, had left on foot wearing a bright orange shirt.

A short time later, officers saw Clem walking on NE B Street, but after they called for Clem to stop, he ducked into a nuisance residence.

Deputies received permission to search the residence. During the initial search, another man, Suthann, was found hiding in a bedroom with methamphetamine in his possession and is wanted by parole officers.

Sill, sounds of someone moving around were heard inside the, but because Clem couldn’t be safely be located, the Grants Pass Police SWAT was called to the scene.

After a 3-hour search that included deploying numerous canisters of irritant in the attic and under the house, Clem finally crawled out of the crawlspace and surrendered to SWAT officers.

He was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of Mace/Pepper Spray, and Escape in the third degree. Attempted Assault charges are also being considered.

The man in the bedroom, Suthann, was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for a Parole Violation and Possession of Controlled Substances (Methamphetamine).