A man was taken into custody Monday afternoon following a multi-hour standoff with law enforcement in the Misty Forest neighborhood off Highway 165, according to Phenix City Police Chief George Staudinger.
The incident began shortly after 3 p.m. when police received a call from a woman who had managed to escape a residence where she said a man was holding another woman at gunpoint. Officers responded to the scene and were able to safely retrieve the female victim from inside the home.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Michael Deshun Jones Jr., had reportedly threatened to kill the woman and himself. After briefly speaking to officers through a window, Jones retreated further into the two-story house and ceased communication with law enforcement from the Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers attempted to contact Jones using a loudspeaker. “Mike, answer the phone!” one officer was heard saying during the standoff. Authorities also deployed tear gas in an effort to gain compliance.
Specialized equipment from the Columbus Police Department was brought in to aid the response. Law enforcement used drones and a robot typically used by bomb squads to safely gain visual access inside the home.
“It definitely made our job safer,” Chief Staudinger said. “Any equipment you can use to minimize risk to officers and put some eyes in the residence is great. The smaller drones that CPD brought were very helpful in allowing us to maneuver through parts of the house we hadn’t seen yet.”
After several hours, officers entered the home by force, removing barricaded items including a mattress, and located Jones upstairs. He was taken into custody without further incident.
During the standoff, nearby residents were temporarily blocked from accessing their homes for safety reasons.
“The neighbors and the folks out here — I really appreciate you helping us by staying clear and letting us bring your neighborhood back to safety so your kids can play out here,” said Chief Staudinger. “It’s ridiculous that people have to act this way, but we’re grateful it ended peacefully.”
Jones was booked into the Russell County Jail on a charge of first-degree kidnapping. A search warrant was executed at the residence to recover additional evidence. Authorities said a mugshot would be released following booking procedures.
