Rio Rancho man arrested after allegedly pursuing officers with knives

RIO RANCHO — A man was arrested and released with conditions the same day after he allegedly threatened police with knives.

Justin Shirley, 29, of Rio Rancho, was arrested July 16 for five counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer, battery upon a peace officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at the Arrowhead Ridge Apartments. According to court records, he was released with conditions the same day.

The reporting party said a male, who the identified as Shirley, had been banging on his front door causing a disturbance, according to a statement of probable cause, also telling responding officers the man left a knife in front of the door. The reporting party stated they told Shirley to leave several times before he finally left, it stated.

When officers went to speak with Shirley, he came to the door with two knives and was uncooperative, the report states. He was given multiple commands to drop the knives but refused. Despite police announcements and repeated warnings, Shirley kept an aggressive stance and began walking toward officers while refusing to drop his knives, it reads. Two officers deployed multiple Taser prongs into Shirley in an attempt to incapacitate him, it states.

Though they were eventually able to detain Shirley, he reportedly kept resisting officers. During the altercation, he also allegedly wrapped his legs around an officer and began squeezing.

Shirley could face more than 15 years in prison if he is convicted. Court records show he has not given a plea but he is being temporarily held for preliminary examinations.