Man arrested after armed standoff in Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Lafayette police have identified the man arrested after a standoff that lasted for hours Thursday afternoon.

Around 3 p.m., the Lafayette SWAT Team pulled 38-year-old Robert Pearson II from the home on the 1200 block of Railroad Street. Officers responded to the home just after 11 a.m. on a report of shots fired. Police said a victim was shot at twice, but he was not injured and was able to get out of the home.

Authorities surrounded the home, where they said earlier there was an “armed suspect” inside. Lafayette Police Lt. Brian Gossard told 24-Hour News 8’s sister station WLFI-TV they believed the person of interest was armed with a handgun.

According to Gossard, officers obtained a search warrant prior to entering the home. Gossard also said a “throw phone” was made available to Pearson II but no contact was able to be made. Prior to entering the the residence, the armed standoff lasted four hours.

The SWAT Team set off a flash boom and ambushed the home. Police said officers had to deploy a stun gun to subdue Pearson II, who was handcuffed and taken into custody.

“This is the best outcome we could have had. Nobody was hurt,” said Gossard. “That includes suspects, people in the neighborhood and officers.”

Pearson II faces preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and intimidation.

A juvenile was also taken from the home, but is not a suspect.

Police evacuated homes in the area and had the area contained. They believed no one else was at risk. Additionally, Lafayette Police Chief Patrick Flannelly said a command post was set up on Smith Street throughout the incident.