A SWAT standoff at a home in southwest Atlanta lasted five hours, yielded no arrest and left the residence destroyed, according to Channel 2 Action News.
About 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers spotted a vehicle behind the home in the 1100 block of Merrill Avenue, Atlanta police spokesman Donald Hannah said.
“This vehicle and the driver are connected to an incident currently under investigation,” he said. “During the investigation, officers had reason to believe that the suspect was located inside the home where the vehicle was parked.”
Authorities obtained a warrant to search the house, and the homeowner told Channel 2 she gave consent for officers to conduct the search.
The homeowner, who did not want to be identified, said police damaged her home, leaving it with several broken windows.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The man they were looking for was nowhere to be found.
While officials described him as armed and dangerous, they have not released his name, said what he is accused of doing or specified the nature of his relationship to the homeowner.
And police have not addressed why there was so much damage even though the homeowner consented to the search. As a policy, officers do not simply rush into a home once a warrant is obtained, Hannah said.
“While we won't go into detail on all of our methods, I can tell you each incident is different and the methods used depend on a number of factors,” he said. “The methods are used in an effort to preserve the lives of citizens, the suspect and our officers.”
The homeowner, however, wanted further explanation.
“They went up in there and tore the whole house up,” she told Channel 2. “For no reason at all.”
We’re working to learn more.
VIEW: Map of crime in metro Atlanta
NEW: Join the discussion at the AJC's Crime & Safety Facebook group
Know what's really going on with crime and public safety in your metro Atlanta community, including breaking news, trial coverage, trends and the latest on unsolved cases. Sign up for the AJC's crime and safety newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox.
About the Author
