COLUMBUS – A Columbus man was arrested early Thursday morning after a stand-off with officers from the Columbus Police Department SWAT Team.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., Columbus Police officers observed a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Justin M. Morgan of Columbus. Morgan was a suspect in a recent theft of a firearm from a Columbus home.
Morgan parked his vehicle in the 2700 block of California Court and refused to follow the commands of the officers who attempted to contact him. During the standoff, Morgan refused to exit his vehicle and advised officers that he was armed with a handgun.
Columbus Police Department crisis negotiators, and the CPD SWAT Team, comprised of Columbus Police officers and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputies, were requested to assist at the scene. Upon their arrival, the Columbus Police Department Bomb Squad was also requested.
The crisis negotiators communicated with Morgan for an extended period to get him to surrender. When he refused to do so, the bomb squad officers utilized a robot to break a window on Morgan’s vehicle and administered tear gas into the car.
A short time later, Morgan exited the vehicle where he was arrested by SWAT officers on charges of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a legend drug, and resisting arrest.
Morgan was transported to the Columbus Regional Hospital for a medical evaluation. Once medically cleared, he was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.
The Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, and CRH Paramedics assisted on the scene.
