Deputies with the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office responded to Towaoc on Monday afternoon to assist the Bureau of Indian Affairs police with a suspect.

“The BIA has a person at gunpoint and called for our assistance,” Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said. “I sent two deputies.”

The incident began around 3:30 p.m.

Nowlin said he was informed an adult male allegedly pointed a gun at a BIA officer in a residential neighborhood in Towaoc on the Ute Mountain Reservation.

The BIA officer reportedly drew his firearm and attempted to hold the subject at gunpoint, Nowlin said. No shots were fired.

The man fled the scene on foot and ran into a wooded area, Nowlin said. Police began a search for the subject who was reportedly wearing a dark shirt and khaki pants.

Around 4:30 p.m., Nowlin called his deputies off the search because of the dangers of seeking a possibly armed man in a wooded area after sundown.

The identity of the suspect is known by BIA police and an arrest warrant is being sought, Nowlin said.