Updated: Suspect taken into custody after SWAT team standoff near downtown Wichita

The SWAT team has taken an assault suspect into custody after a more than 14-hour standoff at a house in the 900 block of South Topeka, just south of downtown Wichita.

The suspect, who has not yet been named, had been inside the house since police responded to an assault call around 1 a.m. Monday.

“The suspect has been taken into custody and we will provide a media release when we have more information,” public information officer Chad Ditch said in a statement Monday afternoon.

Police had blocked off traffic for several blocks in both directions, as well as cross street access to Topeka from south Broadway.

Ditch said the assault victim was outside the house when police arrived. She has since been taken to safety.

“They arrived on the scene and learned from the victim, a 28-year-old female, that she was assaulted by a 52-year-old male from within the residence,” Ditch said.

He said the suspect and victim are known to each other but police have not yet established the nature of their relationship.

“Officers learned that the suspect was still inside the residence, possibly armed, so they surrounded the house at that point,” Ditch said.

This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 11:32 AM.