Man eluded police before standoff began

WHITE CLOUD, Mich. (WOOD) - A man who police thought was holed up in a Newaygo County home, leading to a standoff that closed a portion of M-37 for hours, escaped from the residence even before it was surrounded.

Around 10 p.m. Sunday, Kristine Atwood called police after her fiance', John Ingvald Amundson, became belligerent after drinking, not physically abusive, merely loud.

Police went to the home on Evergreen Drive near 32nd Street, south of White Cloud, and tried to arrest Amundson on a warrant.

Two deputies confronted Amundson in the home but he refused to cooperate. As Amundson became more combative, the deputies used their Tasers on him. But the stun gun did not have any effect on Amundson.

Amundson allegedly went for one of the officer's guns. He didn't get it, and the deputies retreated outside and called for back-up.

Atwood and her daughter went out one door. But what deputies didn't know is that Amundson went out another, and escaped into the woods behind the home.

"There was quite a bit of chaos when it was all happening for the officers," said Newaygo County Undersheriff Brian Boyd.

The house was surrounded by the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office Emergency Response Team. The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was called to the scene and sent two of its robots into the home about 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Police shut down M-37 between 26th Street and 32nd Street during the situation.

Witnesses told 24 Hour News 8 that authorities made several announcements on bullhorns in an attempt to get Amundson to come outside.

Then around 8 a.m., police said the robots did not notice any movement in the home. Authorities went inside and searched around but could not find Amundson.

Kristine Atwood declined to appear on camera, but told 24 Hour News 8 her fiance' has never been abusive before and he's not a danger now. She said all of the guns in the home they shared are accounted for.

"He's got alot of issues he has to work out. He just wante the police out of his home," she said.

But Undersheriff Boyd disagreed. "This individual was aggressive with our officers and we're not sure what he's capable of at this point."

They're looking at every tip they get. "There's some locations that have been suggested he might be at. Those locations have been checked."

While deputies and Amundson's fiancé disagree on just how dangerous he is, they do agree on one thing.

"Our hope is that this individual just turns himself in. We don't want anybody to get hurt and would like a peaceful resolution to this," Boyd said.

Amundson faces three felonies, including assaulting an officer and attempting to steal an officer's weapon.

If you know where John Amundson is, call police at (231) 689-7303 or 911.