TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — One man is in custody after police say he barricaded himself inside an apartment at the Summer Tree complex on Castor Court, for eight hours.
According to the Tallahassee Police Department, ATF agents were attempting to arrest 26-year-old Dante Williams on federal warrants just before 11 p.m. Wednesday night.
Officers called Laketh Sweet, Williams' mother, to the scene.
Sweet said it was chaotic. Police told her on the phone that ATF was trying to serve an outstanding warrant or a weapons charge on her son when he barricaded himself inside the apartment. Officers said Williams has a prior criminal background for assault and police thought he may have been armed.
TPD said at one point Williams went upstairs, into the attic of the apartments trying to get away.
His mom said this situation could have ended much worse, but police let her talk to her son and she used her faith and trusted what the officers told her to help bring the situation to an end.
"We first established a base of trust, 'I don't care for you lying to me or you tricking me to do anything,'" Sweet said. "He held to his word. Once I got here to the scene I was allowed to speak to him and he introduced himself so did other sergeants that came over and everything happened and played out just like they said."
TPD says the suspect eventually surrendered just after 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Police say a flash bang was used during the standoff. Residents in the building were evacuated as a precaution.
Sweet's sister was also there throughout the ordeal. The sisters told ABC 27 they come from a family of ministers, so they prayed a lot are just glad Dante Williams is alive.
For now, Williams is in custody and facing more charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary and resisting arrest without violence.
Williams has a bond of $500 set for resisting arrest without violence, the other charges do not have bonds listed.
