Highway 6 and Interstate 70 was closed during a public safety issue for several hours Tuesday afternoon near Rifle, Colorado. According to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department, law enforcement responded to a call of a possible stabbing incident in the vicinity of the West Rifle Exit along I-70 at around 11am. Investigation revealed that one individual had fled to a nearby hillside and positioned himself in a rocky area about 200 yards from the Interstate and parallel to Highway 6. Initial reports were that the individual may have a knife would and it was unclear if the person had a gun. The Sheriff’s Department closed the Interstate and Highway 6 due to the proximity of the suspect to both and the potential for a catastrophic event if there was any gunfire exchanged. Attempts to negotiate were unsuccessful and after several hours the Garfield County All Hazards Response Team were deployed and able to bring the individual down and in custody by 2:30pm without any shots fired. The investigation as to why the individual fled to the hillside and what charges will be filed is ongoing
