Officers in Vandalia were requested by Sidney police to check the Flying J truck stop at 175 Northwoods Boulevard for a wanted man, according to Vandalia police Lt. Kurt Althouse. Police successfully located and attempted to make contact with John Liles, 43 of West Carrollton, around midnight Sunday.
Althouse said Liles was inside a semitrailer parked on the lot, and was wanted on a felony warrant in Sidney for intimidating a witness.
According to police, after Liles was confirmed inside the truck, he was extremely intoxicated and difficult to communicate with. When Liles refused to leave his truck, a regional SWAT composed of several area jurisdictions was also dispatched to the scene out of precaution.
Althouse said police were able to maintain phone communication with Liles and talked him into surrendering without any use of force. Liles was taken into custody around 4:15 a.m. Sunday after an over four hour standoff with police.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
UPDATE @ 4:20 a.m.:
A SWAT standoff in the parking lot of Flying J in Vandalia has ended with a subject in custody, according to police.
The details surrounding the standoff have still not been released.
UPDATE @ 4 a.m.:
Negotiators continue to talk to a man who refuses to exit his semitrailer in a parking lot at the Flying J on Northwoods Boulevard in Vandaila.
SWAT continues to have the occupant surrounded, but it was still not immediately clear the circumstances of the standoff.
We’ll continue to update this page as new information becomes available.
FIRST REPORT
Vandalia police have requested assistance from a regional SWAT team at the Flying J on Northwoods Boulevard.
Police have not specified the nature of the incident, but reports indicate a vehicle is surrounded in a parking lot behind the business at 175 Northwoods Boulevard.
Reports have also indicated a negotiator is being requested to the scene.
We have a crew on the scene and will bring updates to this story as it develops.