A Danville man was arrested peacefully after barricading himself in an apartment for over five hours on Monday afternoon, authorities reported.
The suspect, 32-year-old James Edward Wells, was located by the Danville Police Department at around 3 p.m. in the 100 block of White Street.
Wells, who was wanted on multiple charges, fled into an apartment building after being spotted by law enforcement officers.
According to police, Wells refused to exit the apartment, initiating a standoff that lasted several hours. Throughout the five-hour period, Wells communicated with officers from a distance but made multiple attempts to escape by moving between two apartments and accessing the building's roof system.
A collaborative effort involving the Danville Police Department's patrol and investigations teams, along with the SWAT unit, was deployed to resolve the situation.
Officers worked diligently to de-escalate the situation, using various methods to convince Wells to surrender peacefully.
Despite the tense standoff, no force was used when Wells ultimately surrendered from an attic area.
Assisting with the operation, the Danville Fire Department played a key role in ensuring safety throughout the incident.
Wells was arrested without incident and served with multiple warrants, including felony burglary, felony larceny of a firearm, felony possession of a firearm by a felon, and misdemeanor assault and battery on family members, among other charges.
He was transported to the Danville City Jail.
Authorities expressed relief that the situation ended without violence, thanking the community for their patience during the extended operation.
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