Photo provided Columbus police are shown at the scene of a Thursday afternoon stand-off.
A two-hour standoff in a downtown Columbus neighborhood Thursday afternoon ended without incident after a local man was taken into custody by Columbus Police Department SWAT officers.
CPD officers were sent to a residence in the 700 block of California St. at about 3:45 p.m. 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 1951 McKinley Ave., 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 check and was later taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary charge of felony intimidation, Harris said.
Downs remains incarcerated on a 48 hour hold with a bond set at $7,500, jail officials said.
