SWAT standoff ends with arrest

Tyrrice L. Degraffenreid Submitted photo

A standoff early Monday morning on Iowa Street lasting nearly three hours ended peacefully after the suspect was apprehended by 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 regard 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 640 Union St., Harris said. Degraffenreid is the father of two of the young children who had 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.

Degraffenreid was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond, jail officials said.