Man assaults ex, yields after standoff

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Rapids police arrested a man who had barricaded himself in a Grand Rapids residence after an alleged altercation with his ex-girlfriend.

The suspect and the woman got involved in an argument that turned physical inside an apartment house at 961 Chatham St. NW around 7:22 p.m. Wednesday. The woman was struck in the head with a large object, and the two fought over a knife, according to a police news release. The woman suffered minor cuts and then ran from the scene to call police.

A heavy police presence then surrounded the neighborhood, and some streets were closed. A command post was set up not far from the residence and tactical teams responded.

Authorities used a bullhorn to alert neighbors -- "To all persons hearing this announcement, we have a potential gunfire situation."

"It looked like any other takedown like a normal cop show but live," neighbor William Gibbs told 24 Hour News 8. "I actually sent my children to the basement."

The woman told police she thought her 4-month-old child was still in the residence with the suspect.

"He [the suspect] actually came out of his house, out of the upstairs window, and told them to go away, told them to leave him alone, that he was trying to get his kids asleep. He came out a couple of times out of the window and told them to leave, that he was not going to cooperate, that if they wanted to shoot him to shot him now," Gibbs said."

Police were able to determine the 4-year-old was not in the residence. A separate family -- two children and their parents -- exited the apartment house and were removed from the scene during the standoff.

Authorities gave the suspect verbal commands to surrender but he refused.

Police eventually broke down the door of the residence, GRPD Capt. Dan Savage told 24 Hour News 8. The suspect, a man in his 20s, walked down the stairs, came outside with his hands in the air, and walked backward toward police. He was taken into custody on a felonious assault charge.

His ex-girlfriend was treated at a hospital.

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24 Hour News 8's Leon Hendrix and Tom Hillen contributed to this report