A standoff between officers of the Novato Police Department and a local man ended in the arrest of 34-year-old Lance Mark Papka on Monday afternoon. NPD Sergeant Jennifer Dunlap issued a press release detailing the encounter and resulting arrest.
According to reports made to Novato police by the unnamed female adult victim, also a Novato resident, Papka physically assaulted her and would not let her leave his side afterward. Papka kept the victim prisoner in a residence on Alta Vista Court in Novato and fired a shot in the home during her forced stay there.
At roughly 2:40 p.m., NPD received a call about a suicidal man in possession of a number of firearms, and responded to the Alta Vista Court residence where Papka was still holding his female victim. Officers Layn, Bagget, and Jacob set up a perimeter around the residence so that they could intercept anyone exiting.
After some time, the victim escaped and gave officers her story, telling them that Papka had, indeed, talked about committing suicide. She had sustained minor injuries from the earlier assault.
Shortly thereafter, Papka walked out to find NPD officers surrounding the residence. He made no attempt to resist arrest and followed all orders officers gave him. The officers immediately took Papka into custody and booked him on charges of domestic violence, negligent discharge of a firearm, and false imprisonment.
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