BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges after a Halloween standoff.
Just after 3:30 a.m., Saturday, an officer with the Great Bend Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 2200 block of 28th Street on a 2004 Honda Odyssey for a traffic violation.
A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Andrew Taylor, 33, was known to the officer to have multiple arrest warrants from multiple agencies.
When the officer advised Taylor of the arrest warrants, he ran from the vehicle, towards a nearby residence. After a brief foot pursuit, the officer observed Taylor go into the residence in the 2200 block of 28th Street.
Responding officers created a perimeter around the residence to ensure Taylor was unable to leave undetected. Officers then entered the residence and located Taylor in a back bedroom under a bed. Taylor then told officers he had a gun and that was going to shoot himself if the officers did not leave the residence. Officers backed out of the residence, making sure the two other occupants of the residence made it out safely. The area around the residence was blocked off and additional officers and detectives were called to the scene.
While a search warrant was obtained for the residence, officers attempted to contact Taylor over a loudspeaker. Eventually Taylor contacted an officer via text message and began communicating. After approximately four hours, Taylor exited the residence and surrendered without incident.
Taylor was transported to the Barton County Detention Center where he received a mental health evaluation. Taylor was arrested on the four arrest warrants, on requested charges that include possession of a stolen firearm, interference with law enforcement and failure to appear.
Additionally, Taylor was charged with criminal possession of a firearm and interference with law enforcement. A search warrant was later executed at the residence.