A standoff early this morning on Iowa Street that lasted nearly three hours ended peacefully after the suspect was apprehended by members of the Columbus Police Department SWAT Team.
Shortly before 5 a.m., Columbus police officers responded a residence in the 1000 block of Iowa Street in regards to a report of man who had broken into a home with a knife, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Four children were able to get out of the house, however, three children remained inside with the suspect, Tyrrice L. Degraffenreid, 35, of Columbus, Harris said. Degraffenreid is the father of two of the young children who remained inside, Harris said.
Officers confirmed that a valid protective order was in place that prohibited Degraffenreid from being at the residence, Harris said.
Officers attempted to make contact with Degraffenreid who refused to exit the home and the Columbus Police Department SWAT Team was activated and responded to the scene a short time later, Harris said.
The SWAT Team officers entered the home and were able to escort the remaining three children out to safety, Harris said.
Officers later located Degraffenreid hiding in a bedroom inside the home where he was taken into custody after a Columbus Police Department canine was used to detain him, Harris said. Degraffenreid was treated for a dog bite after the incident, Harris said.
Degraffenreid was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was remanded on preliminary charges of residential entry violation of a protective order (Invasion of Privacy), Harris said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
