Armed suspect in custody after Pantego residents shelter in place during police standoff
A suspect wearing body armor who was accused of firing a gun near a North Texas apartment complex was taken into custody after Pantego police issued a shelter in place order for residents during a standoff Friday night.
The standoff began following a short police chase in which the suspect crashed his vehicle, according to police and witnesses.
The Pantego Police Department received a 911 call about 5:50 p.m. about a man shooting a gun in the area of Shady Valley Apartments, in the 3500 block of Shady Valley Drive, police said in a news release. When officers arrived, the suspect had fled the scene in a vehicle.
The man led officers on a short pursuit before he returned to his residence on Shady Valley Drive, police said. He was wearing body armor and carrying a gun when he got out of his car and ran to his front door, according to the release.
Pantego police, with help from officers from the Dalworthington Gardens and Arlington police departments, established a perimeter around the apartment and started to negotiate with the armed suspect, who was barricaded inside, police said.
Neighboring homes were evacuated as a safety precaution. Additionally, all residents along Shady Valley Drive, Green Tee Drive and surrounding courts, and Country Club Road along a nearby creek in Pantego were asked to stay indoors, police announced at around 7 p.m. in a Facebook post.
An Arlington SWAT team was called to the scene to assist.
About 8 p..m., the man surrendered and was taken into custody without incident, police said. He was taken to the Pantego Police Department and booked. Police have not released his name or what charges he is expected to face.
No one was injured in the incident, police said.
Two Pantego residents told the Star-Telegram that they saw three police cars chasing a vehicle when the suspect hit a curb and hit two cars as he was traveling down the 3900 block of West Pioneer Parkway. They said the police presence quickly grew as the suspect then made a left turn into the Shady Valley Square Apartments.
The residents said they were told that the suspect was carrying a weapon and there was a passenger in the vehicle with him during the chase.
Police have not released information about a passenger in the suspect vehicle.
This story was originally published March 22, 2024 at 7:57 PM.
