Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - A man was arrested Wednesday after alleged threats to his estranged wife and family prompted an elementary school lockdown and a police standoff outside a Lilburn home, authorities said.

James Garcia assaulted his wife and her "male companion" on Wednesday morning, according to Stacey Kelley, spokesperson for the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department. At the time, the wife had filed a temporary protective order to keep Garcia from contacting her, Kelley said.

During the incident, Garcia allegedly threw lighter fluid on the face of his wife's male companion and threatened to set him on fire.

Garcia also allegedly threatened to take his children out of school and harm them, Kelley said. Lawrenceville Police officers picked up Garcia's children from Hopkins Elementary for safe keeping and the school also went into lockdown as a security precaution.

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department's Special Warrant Service Unit then had Garcia's wife arrange to meet him at their home on Wilton Lane in Lilburn. By the time authorities arrived, Garcia was already inside the residence and his vehicle was parked behind it. When hostage negotiators made contact with him, Garcia said he had cut himself and was bleeding, Kelley said.

Deputies and police officers forced entry to the house to find Garcia on the living room floor suffering from cuts to his stomach and arms. The interior of the home had been destroyed, and Garcia also appeared to be heavily intoxicated according to police.

Garcia was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, where he was treated for his injuries and admitted for mental evaluation. Criminal charges are pending against Garcia by the Lawrenceville Police Department, Kelley said.

Capt. Greg Vaughn, public information officer for the Lawrenceville Police Department, could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.