Two in hospital after police standoff

A 34-year-old Logan man was in a 90-minute standoff with police Sunday afternoon after he assaulted his sister, sending her to Logan Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Merlin DeMars attacked his sister, Debbie DeMars, 35, in their house at 233 S. 300 East, in the Island. When police arrived at the scene, DeMars threatened officers with a hatchet and a knife, said Logan Police Officer Eric Collins.

Police shot DeMars with bean bags and tasered him twice before he retreated into the house. Collins said police tried to open negotiations with DeMars but he refused to cooperate. After an hour and a half, the SWAT team forced their way into the house and arrested him.

He was taken to Logan Regional Hospital to be treated for non-threatening injuries. He will be placed in police custody following his release from the hospital.

DeMars will be charged with assault of his sister and aggravated assault on the officers.

DeMars’ sister was bleeding when she was taken to the hospital, but her injuries were not serious enough to be considered life-threatening.

Collins said DeMars is known to have been suicidal lately, and has had problems with drug and alcohol abuse.

“We have had issues with him before, mostly drug and alcohol related,” Collins said. “Nothing like this.”

Relatives of DeMars were on the scene Sunday afternoon. DeMars’ sister, Linda DeMars, 39, said she was just glad things turned out OK.

“Things are much better now,” she said. “We’re grateful for how things turned out.”

-elizabeth.lawyer@aggiemail.usu.edu