COLUMBUS, Ind. — A two-hour standoff in a downtown Columbus neighborhood Thursday afternoon ended without incident after a local man was taken into custody by CPD SWAT officers.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., CPD officers were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of California St. in regards to a wellness check of a person making threats, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
When officers arrived at the residence they spoke with a man, later identified as Michael E. Downs, 50, of Columbus, who advised he was armed and made threats towards law enforcement, Harris said.
The officers at the scene backed away from the residence, blocked nearby streets, and requested additional police resources including SWAT and CPD crisis negotiators. Officers attempted for an extended period of time to get Downs to come out of the house, however, he refused to exit the home, Harris said.
A short time later, SWAT officers introduced tear gas into home and at approximately 5:50 p.m. Downs surrendered to law enforcement and was placed under arrest. Downs was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a checkout and was later
remanded to the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary charge of felony intimidation, Harris said. He remains incarcerated on a 48 hour hold, jail officials said.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
