Salem Police officers arrested Mark Arthur Coutis of Salem on February 14, on charges of stalking, menacing, and unlawful use of a weapon.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., Friday night, officers responded to the report of an armed man who stood in the street in the 1500 block of Ruge ST NW yelling and brandishing a handgun. He fled before police arrived.
Soon after, officers contacted the suspect, identified as Coutis, but he refused to exit. After nearly two hours of negotiations with a trained crisis negotiator, he surrendered and was taken into custody. Officers seized six firearms from Coutis’ residence.
The 55-year-old Coutis is currently lodged at the Polk County Jail on the above-listed charges and two outstanding warrants in other unrelated cases.
All further inquiries into the case must be directed to the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
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