A series of troubling text alerts kicked off an hourslong SWAT standoff Thursday at a heavily fortified Marietta apartment, where a wanted man barricaded himself and two others inside.
A 19-year-old woman and a 7-year-old girl were believed to be held hostage by the man, identified as Durrell Harris, 35, of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Someone inside the apartment at The Falls at Sope Creek on Roswell Road texted a 911 dispatcher about 3:30 p.m. to report that Harris had threatened them and their children and had weapons, according to Marietta police.
The texts went on for several minutes, describing an elaborate home security system with surveillance cameras and a makeshift safe room built inside a bedroom closet, police spokesman Officer Chuck McPhilamy said.
“The texter indicated they were afraid for their own safety and that the suspect has multiple warrants from two other states,” McPhilamy said in a news release.
The first officers to respond to the complex found the door to the apartment ajar and smelled the strong odor of marijuana, he said. After the officers made their presence known, Harris appeared and slammed the door.
Nearly five hours later, after unsuccessful attempts to contact the man, officers forced their way into the apartment about 8:30 p.m. The woman and the 7-year-old were able to walk out of the apartment to safety, McPhilamy said.
“As soon as we get them away from the scene and start asking them questions, they articulated that he has created, or manufactured, an elaborate system inside this apartment, a way for him to barricade himself inside,” he said.
Based on their testimony, and the belief the man was armed, the decision was made to call in the SWAT team, he added.
It took another three hours after the arrival of SWAT to broker a peaceful resolution. At 12:45 a.m., Harris was carried out of the apartment unharmed after police used a Taser to subdue him. No weapons were located inside his apartment, according to police.
Related to the Marietta incident, Harris is facing felony charges of false imprisonment and possession of cocaine and MDMA, as well as misdemeanor marijuana possession and obstruction charges. He also has outstanding warrants from Wisconsin on undisclosed charges.
It was not clear if he was the primary resident of the Marietta apartment. The 19-year-old woman was described by police as “a recent acquaintance of the suspect” from Ohio who has cooperated with investigators. The 7-year-old is a relative of Harris.
Neither was believed to be injured.
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