Crime & Courts

Man in custody after standoff with SWAT in Wichita’s Old Town, officials say

An unidentified man is placed under arrest in the 600 block of east Douglas on Wednesday after an hours-long police standoff ended.
An unidentified man is placed under arrest in the 600 block of east Douglas on Wednesday after an hours-long police standoff ended. The Wichita Eagle

A man is in custody after an hours-long police standoff in Old Town that closed off a portion of Douglas downtown on Wednesday afternoon.

He was taken into custody about 4:45 p.m.

Shortly before 1 p.m., Wichita police responded to a domestic violence call with a gun at 612 E. Douglas, which is the Renfro apartment complex across from Naftzger Park.

The call involved a couple who lived at the apartment, Wichita police spokesperson Andrew Ford said.

The woman was able to get out while the man barricaded himself inside. The SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called shortly after 3 p.m.

SWAT members and Wichita police are on scene of an incident Wednesday afternoon on Douglas. Police have blocked off Douglas between St. Francis and Mosley. Police in this photo were entering a building at St. Francis and Douglas.
SWAT members and Wichita police are on scene of an incident Wednesday afternoon on Douglas. Police have blocked off Douglas between St. Francis and Mosley. Police in this photo were entering a building at St. Francis and Douglas. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle

“He tried throwing her stuff out then pointed a gun at her,” according to Sedgwick County scanner traffic. “There are six total guns in the apartment.”

Ford did not say what kind of weapon or weapons the man had. No injuries were reported.

Police shut down Douglas from St. Francis to Mead during the standoff. Residents who live in 612 E. Douglas, where the call started, were asked to stay inside until police arrived to escort them out.

Three armored vehicles and police snipers were on scene. Police had put up a drone.

Members of the WPD SWAT team arrive at Douglas and St. Francis during a standoff with a suspect in an apartment building in the 600 block of east Douglas.
Members of the WPD SWAT team arrive at Douglas and St. Francis during a standoff with a suspect in an apartment building in the 600 block of east Douglas. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle
A Wichita Police sniper sets up on the roof of the Martin Pringle law office in downtown Wichita on Wednesday during a standoff across the street.
A Wichita Police sniper sets up on the roof of the Martin Pringle law office in downtown Wichita on Wednesday during a standoff across the street. Travis Heying The Wichita Eagle

This story was originally published June 12, 2024 at 3:57 PM.

MS
Michael Stavola
The Wichita Eagle
Michael Stavola is a former journalist for The Eagle.
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