A vehicle crash led to a gun threat Tuesday evening. The incident began near Miller Middle School.
The first driver, identified as Michael Fender, 49, was westbound on Junction Street in a Dodge pickup. A car with multiple occupants, including Devin Bond, 17, began following closely behind Fender’s vehicle, according to Dan Bender, spokesman for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
“Bond told deputies he felt Fender was driving too slowly,” Bender said. “Fender claimed Bond’s vehicle rear-ended him. Bond claimed Fender applied his brakes, and they ran into him.”
Fender continued driving north in a Dodge pickup. And the car with multiple occupants followed Fender as he left, Bender said.
The two vehicles ended up at the Junction Creek Mobile Home Park, 535 County Road 204, where both Fender and one of the car’s occupants live, Sgt. David Griggs of the Sheriff’s Office said. When they approached Fender’s mobile home, he came out pointing a gun.
“They took off running, because they were pretty scared,” Griggs said.
Bond said he wanted to press charges. Bender said it was unclear whether Bond was the driver or a passenger in the second vehicle.
“Fender said he wanted to scare Bond and his friends and teach them a lesson,” Bender said.
No shots were fired.
Sheriff’s Office deputies responded and arrested Fender for menacing, a Class 5 felony. He was still at the La Plata County jail Wednesday morning and was being held on $5,000 bond.
Any citations for the crash would be the responsibility of the Durango Police Department because it took place within the city limits, Griggs said.
abutler@durangoherald.com
