Overnight Gunfire Sends Police into Action
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
Law enforcement officers were faced with a volatile and dangerous situation involving intoxication, and a firearm around midnight Thursday, April 9.
At approximately midnight Thursday (late Wednesday night), 911 calls were received about gunfire in the 100 block of 3rd Street SW in Watford City. This area is better associated with being two blocks west of Main Street and south from Park Avenue.
During one call, gunfire could be heard in the background. Police units responded to the area and were advised of a dark-colored sedan with a male driver being the source of both fireworks and also gunfire.
Police located a male matching the description given by callers according to a press release from the Watford City Police Department. The male was identified as 28-year old Carlos Alexander Augustine Romero, of Watford City.
Romero was stated to be armed with a handgun during the contact and officers began issuing verbal commands to which Romero was not compliant and at one point reached for his waistband. In response to that movement, an officer deployed an electronic control device (Taser) and successfully subdued Romero and he was taken into custody without further incident. A handgun was removed from his person.
Multiple shell casings were located at the intersection of Park Avenue and 3rd Street Southwest. This is a residential area and residents expressed concern for their safety to police at the time.
Romero was reportedly highly intoxicated and also experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident. He admitted to discharging the firearm and also expressed that he fired into the air in hopes that a falling round would strike him.
Residents in the southwest area of the city where this occurred are advised to check their properties for any potential damage and if any is found to contact the police department.
Agencies that responded to the call were Watford City Police, McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Highway Patrol, and McKenzie County Ambulance.
Romero is charged with multiple offenses:
-Reckless Endangerment with Extreme Indifference (Class B Felony)
-Terrorizing (Class C Felony)
-Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class C Felony)
-Preventing Arrest or Discharge of Other Duties (Class C Felony)
-Carrying a Concealed Weapon (Class A Misdemeanor)
Romero is being held at the McKenzie County Correctional Facility without bond, pending a court hearing and arraignment.
The Farmer will continue to follow this incident and report updates as they become available.