OKANOGAN — A 40-year-old Okanogan man who threatened to kill his wife and then himself early today is now in a standoff with law enforcement. As of 9:45 this morning, he still was barricaded in his garage on Sixth Avenue in Okanogan, authorities said.

The woman and her children escaped the home with help from deputies and police, and are now safe, said Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers.

Deputies responded to the home at about 4 a.m. after the wife called 911, Rogers said. He said they thought they were responding to a home invasion, but later discovered it was the woman’s husband who was holding her and her children captive.

“We don’t know what triggered this,” Rogers said. “He has not talked to us all night.” Rogers said the man has a gun, which they believe is a .22-caliber pistol. No shots had been fired, he said.

Colville Tribal Police and Omak Police helped deputies get the woman and her children out of the house through a window, the sheriff said. He said he believes there were two children, but does not know their ages.

Rogers said he does not know how they escaped the man, who later fled to his garage.

The home is not far from the sheriff’s office and Okanogan County Courthouse, on a section of Sixth Avenue known as Orchard Grade, which turns into the Conconully Road. It was blocked to traffic this morning between Sunrise and Highland drives, Rogers said.

About 10 law enforcement officers were at the scene this morning. Rogers said some of them crept up to the garage earlier this morning and looked inside, and saw a flashlight so they backed away.

“We're trying to talk to him, but he won’t respond. We’ve tried calling his cell phone. We’re just kind of waiting now,” he said.

K.C. Mehaffey: 997-2512

mehaffey@wenatcheeworld.com