A Casper man who threatened to die by suicide-by-cop rather than return to prison was arrested in Golden, Colo., on Sunday, according to a news release from the Casper Police Department on Monday.

Detective John Hatcher did not have any more information about how Joshua Coats was apprehended, he said.

Coats, 29, has had an arrest warrant for distribution of methamphetamine, and has made numerous statements that he did not want to go back to prison, Hatcher said in late June.

“And if he is contacted by law enforcement, he will do everything in his ability including shooting out with the police, suicide by cop, or anything like that to keep from going back to prison," he said.

Hatcher has heard similar threats from wanted persons before, but usually there’s no problem when they’re taken into custody, he said. “But when someone threatens like and they say they could be armed, we take all precautions with someone like that and make sure safety for everyone and law enforcement.”

Law enforcement said last month he might be in Casper or elsewhere in Natrona County, or in Shoshoni or Riverton in Fremont County.

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