Assault with a Firearm Arrest
December 13, 2023 - Lassen County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Sunday, December 10th, 2023, at approximately 11:03 a.m., the 
Lassen County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls regarding an assault with a deadly weapon in Doyle, CA. The suspect was identified as 46-year-old Doyle resident David Garfield Jr. David’s parents called 911 and reported that David had armed himself with a baseball bat and was damaging their property. Deputies were dispatched to the call.
Dispatch received a 2nd 911 call from a person who stated their neighbor was being chased by a male armed with a shotgun. Dispatch received two additional 911 calls from neighbors reporting the same thing. All three neighbors called back a short time later to report they heard gunshots.
Three LCSO units arrived on scene as well as Officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Deputies were notified that David had chased his parents with a shotgun and fired multiple shots. It was determined that David and his parents live on the same property, in different trailers. David was behind a locked gate on the property. Deputies were able to make contact with David from a distance. David was ordered to surrender himself, but he refused.
Two members of the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) were on scene and began negotiating with David. Negotiations were good at times, bad at times, and the situation was not stable. David threatened to fight law enforcement. David admitted he had a shotgun inside of his trailer, which was located behind where he was communicating with the deputies. Due to the situation being unstable, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was requested to respond.
SWAT deployed with their Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV). Negotiations continued while SWAT was responding. SWAT arrived and staged down the road as they heard from on scene deputies that negotiations were seemingly going well at the time. A short time later, deputies relayed that David was highly agitated and communication had broken down again. David was walking back and forth from his gate to his trailer. SWAT arrived on scene while negotiations continued.
As SWAT arrived, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team was on scene and deployed a drone into the air. The Drone Team was able to communicate their observations with SWAT throughout the rest of the incident.
David’s parents had reported David had been up all-night drinking alcohol. David continued to drink alcohol, while communicating with negotiators. CNT had been negotiating with David for approximately 3 hours at this point. David was unreasonable and it seemed unlikely David was going to surrender himself.
A tactical plan was made in an attempt to get between David and his trailer where the shotgun was located. Before SWAT members could get in place, David began running back to his trailer. Less-lethal munitions were fired at David, striking him in the mid-section, which caused him to stumble. David was able to make it into the trailer, where he armed himself with the shotgun.
The ARV was moved up to the trailer to provide SWAT members cover and negotiations continued. David refused to come out. Diversionary devices were utilized to deploy CS aerosol gas canisters into the trailer. Negotiations continued with David.
David was given ample opportunity to surrender without further incident, but he continued to refuse to exit the trailer. An additional deployment of CS aerosol gas canisters were introduced into the trailer, while utilizing diversionary devices. Negotiations continued with David.
After approximately 12 more minutes of negotiations, David exited the trailer and was taken into custody without further incident. An ambulance had been staged in the area and immediately responded to treat David for his injuries.
On scene, deputies located a 12-gauge shotgun, live 12-gauge shotgun shells, and expended 12-gauge shotgun shells. Deputies also located evidence David had shot the window out of his parent’s vehicle and vandalized their trailer with a baseball bat.
David was treated at Banner Lassen Medical Center for his injuries and transported to the Lassen County Jail. David was booked on charges of 2 counts of assault with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon (other than a firearm), felony vandalism, 2 counts of criminal threats, 2 counts of felony elder abuse, obstruction with violence, and exhibiting a firearm in the presence of a peace officer.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank CHP for their quick response to assist our deputies. The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank Doyle Fire Department and SEMSA ambulance service for standing by and ultimately responding to treat David for his injuries.
Report by Sergeant Dustin Russell
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office
Source: Lassen County Sheriff’s Office
