Two arrested after hotel SWAT standoff

FARGO (KVRR/KFGO) — A Fargo man and woman are in jail after a short standoff at a south Fargo hotel Wednesday.

Fargo Police say officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 1400 block of 35th Street S. just before 7 p.m.

Officers say two men and a woman were in a room and one of the men came out saying he was assaulted by the woman. When officers tried talking to the woman, police say they were indirectly sprayed with an irritant. Police have not said what the irritant was.

After that, and because of the known criminal history of the people still inside the room, the Red River Valley SWAT team was called in. Around 10:10, officers arrested the man and woman.

Jessica Maher, 37, is facing charges of assaulting a peace officer and domestic assault. Justin Peterson, 37, is facing a terrorizing charge after police say he earlier threatened hotel staff with a machete.

Maher and Peterson were both taken to a hospital to be medically cleared before being booked into the Cass County jail.

During the standoff, police were asking people to avoid the area.