Sheriff: Man in jail standoff pulled gun from his clothing

CLOVIS — The man involved in Thursday’s standoff at the Curry County Jail pulled a gun from his clothing as he waited to be booked following his arrest, Curry County Sheriff Wesley Waller said.

Wesley Flores, 28, of Clovis, was in stable condition at a Lubbock hospital Friday after police said he shot himself in the face at the end of the four-hour standoff.

Waller said Clovis police arrested Flores on Thursday afternoon after he failed to appear in court on a warrant alleging possession of a firearm by a felon, multiple unauthorized uses of credit cards and other charges.

Officials have said Flores was “inside a vestibule between the sally port and booking room” when he “produced a handgun.”

Waller said Friday the arresting officer, who has not been identified, had left the sally port and was in the booking area when a detention officer began “performing a pre-booking pat down and property inventory.”

That’s when Flores pulled the gun and took the detention officer hostage.

Police have not said how long the detention officer was held hostage, but that two sheriff’s deputies secured his release after a period of negotiations.

Flores then remained in the vestibule, with the gun pointed at himself, while police attempted to talk him into surrender.

At some point during negotiations, officials used pepper spray in hopes Flores would give up his weapon.

Waller said Flores shot himself at the end of the standoff. “The Clovis Police SWAT team utilized a flash-bang, which is a distractionary device that causes a bright flash and loud report, as they made entry into the vestibule following the shot fired by Flores,” Waller said.

A waiting ambulance immediately took Flores to Plains Regional Medical Center where officials said he faced “life-threatening injuries.” He was stabilized and flown to a Lubbock hospital later Thursday night.

Waller said Flores fired the only shot during the incident. Officials have said no other injuries were reported.

Officials have not yet addressed how Flores managed to have the gun in his clothing following his arrest.

Clovis police and the Curry County Sheriff’s office are investigating the series of events; police will be investigating the arrest and the sheriff’s office will investigate the hostage situation and attempted suicide, Waller said.

Officials said the entire detention center was placed on lock-down during the incident and no additional bookings could be made until Flores was removed and the scene was made safe.

Waller said charges are pending in connection with the standoff.