Man arrested after nearly 12-hour long standoff with SWAT Team in LaGrange
LAGRANGE, Ga. - LaGrange High School was on lockdown for several hours Tuesday as police engaged in a standoff with a suspect located about a mile away.
The situation unfolded when LaGrange Police, attempting to serve a warrant early Thursday morning, were led to a residence on the 900 block of Norwood Drive on the city's north side.
"We located his car on the cameras before it led us to this location where he resides," said LaGrange Police Chief Garrett Fiveash.
The standoff began Tuesday at approximately 4 a.m. and lasted about 12 hours, during which, authorities discovered a 12-gauge shotgun inside the home.
A woman on the scene, who described herself as the suspect's ex-wife , says authorities were attempting to serve a warrant after her ex-husband allegedly stalked her and kicked in her apartment door Friday. The woman who chose not to share her name said the couple had lived in the home for 4 years until their divorce earlier this year.
"Just pray, just pray," said the woman who would not share her name.
Lagrange Police, Georgia State Patrol, Peachtree City, Muscogee County and Lagrange Fire were among the responding agencies.
According to the Fiveash, crisis negotiators remained in contact with the suspect for the majority of the day. The suspect, initially reported to be highly intoxicated and emotional, moved from room to room with a towel around his face as police utilized chemical munitions in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to surrender.
Eventually, a fully armored vehicle from an assisting agency got into the house and ended the standoff. FOX 5 Atlanta was the only local news organization at the scene as everything unfolded.
The suspect, identified as Raymond Wardlaw, was transported to Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center and then to the Troup County Jail.
Raymond Wardlaw
Wardlaw is facing charges of family violence burglary, family violence criminal trespass, family violence simple battery, and felony obstruction.