Man arrested after shots were fired

    According to a media release from the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, allegedly a man named James Brown fired a gun at several Burlington Northern Sante Fe employees on Tuesday. Oct. 23. Coincidentally, the employees due to not being able to drive forward for fear of more shots fired nor backward because of the railroad crossing being torn up due to construction. Brown was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center for four counts of 1st degree assault (assaults another with a firearm) and four counts of unlawful imprisonment.
    With the report of a male subject firing a gun at co-workers, Sheriff Brian Burnett responded to the 10:43 p.m. call. He headed four miles north of Leavenworth, the 12000 block of Chumstick Highway, to the scene of the incident. The scene had erupted when Burlington North Sante Fe employees were using a private driveway to access a railroad crossing construction site. The employees had used the driveway twice earlier in the day to get on the site, however this time they were confronted by James Brown, carrying an AR style rifle.
    Allegedly, Brown told the employees they were on private property so in response they attempted to leave and drive back towards Chumstick Highway. The sheriff's office release stated that Brown shouted for the group to stop, raised a rifle and fired 3-5 rounds into the ground in front of the truck. The crew reversed until Brown disappeared into the trees. Since the employees were in immobile due to fear going forward and couldn't go backward due to the torn up railroad crossing, the workers had to radio a co-worker and escaped south on the railway.
    When Chelan County Sheriff's deputies tried to defuse the situation, Brown stated that law enforcement was not allowed on his property and only would communicate via phone. In response, the Chelan County Regional SWAT had to be activated to negotiate and continue dialogue with Brown. After Brown stopped communicating with law enforcement, the SWAT team located him and took him into custody with no incident.
    Search warrants were issued for Brown's residence and multiple firearms were found and taken for evidence.