Tear Gas Using During SWAT Standoff in Statham

An attempt to apprehend a wanted man led to a 3-hour standoff in Statham on Tuesday.

In an email to Barrow Patch, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said deputies went to a home at 462 Wall Road in response to a report that a person with outstanding felony warrants was at the location.

When deputies arrived, the homeowner and two unidentified people -- a male and a female -- ran inside the home. The homeowner quickly came back outside and was detained as deputies attempted to determine who the other individuals were. The homeowner claimed not to know the identity of the two people inside the home.


"The occupants were asked to exit the home several times with loud commands over our PA system," Smith wrote.  "After about two hours of advising the occupants to exit the home the SWAT was called out to make possible entry into the home." 

According to Smith, deputies determined during the negotiations that Sasha Sanchez was inside the home. Sanchez was reportedly seen barricading the doors and windows of the home. At the time of the negotiations, deputies were unable to ascertain the identity of the male inside the home.

Deputies obtained a search warrant and, after about two and a half hours of negotiations, tear gas was deployed inside the home. Both people came out about 15 minutes later, Smith said.

Sanchez and a male identified as LaMichael Lindsey were taken into custody without further incident. 

The homeowner, Christopher Jones, was charged with violating Georgia's Controlled Substances Act, Smith indicated. Sanchez had two outstanding warrants and was charged with obstruction. Lindsey was also charged with obstruction.

"Although the incident took almost three hours all parties were taken into custody without injuries or further incident," Smith wrote.  "After speaking to the parties it was determined the original wanted person we were looking for possibly ran from the scene prior to our arrival."     

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