2 men arrested after assault leads to standoff at Old Town Scottsdale motel

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Police have released new details after a man was seriously injured by two suspects, one of whom barricaded himself in an Old Town Scottsdale motel room Sunday night. The men who were arrested have been identified as 41-year-old Justin Walowitz and 48-year-old Andre Woods.

Around 7:30 p.m. on June 4, officers were called to the Extended Stay America near Marshall Way and Goldwater Boulevard. There, they spoke with a 36-year-old man who had been injured during a confrontation with two men. The man told police that the suspects held a knife to his throat, stabbed his face and kicked him in the head. He was rushed to the hospital with injuries including a fractured skull, but police say he’s expected to survive.

Detectives later learned that the victim had been sitting at a picnic table in the common area smoking with a friend when the suspects approached. According to court documents, Walowitz and Woods started an argument with the man over his long hair and because he “was talking to another African American” man. The suspects then reportedly attacked him, knocking him to the ground. Walowitz allegedly kicked the man in the chest and head while Woods got on top of him and pinned him to the ground with his knee. The documents say Woods then pulled out a hunting knife, put it to the man’s throat and said, “I’m gonna kill you.” The victim then felt a sharp pain in his face but said he continued to fight back until he was able to get away.

Officers determined the suspects were staying on the property and arrived to see the men coming out of one of the rooms. Police say Walowitz was taken into custody while Woods ignored officers’ commands and ran inside a nearby room.

Surrounding rooms were evacuated and SWAT units were called. For the next two hours, officers used a PA system trying to get Woods to come out of the room. Police say he surrendered around 11:30 p.m. that night.

Walowitz and Woods have since been booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges including aggravated assault and kidnapping. Police are still investigating what led up to the assault of the 36-year-old man.

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