DOWAGIAC — Police reported that an hour-long standoff with police an armed home invasion suspect ended on the roof of a Dowagiac resident’s home.

Dowagiac Director of Public Safety Steven Grinnewald reported that officers of the Dowagiac Police Department investigated a home invasion in the 400 block of N. Front Street in Dowagiac at approximately 1 a.m. Thursday morning on a report of an assault that had occurred at a residence with one of the suspects threatening the caller with  a handgun. 

While officers were responding, the caller advised that the suspects were leaving in a silver vehicle. Officers observed the suspect vehicle near the intersection of N. Front and Division streets, and followed the vehicle as it turned on Orchard Street.  Officers initiated a traffic stop on that vehicle, at which point officers observed a male passenger flee from the backseat of the car on foot and officers followed after him, also on foot. Two female subjects, one the driver and one a passenger, remained in the vehicle after the male suspect ran.  The suspect fled to a backyard in the 200 block of McOmber Street with officers pursuing him. 

Officers located the suspect, who quickly climbed on top of a shed and then onto the second story roof of the residence.  The suspect remained on the roof for approximately one hour as officers began speaking with him, attempting to get him off of the roof.  The male suspect was eventually talked down from the roof and placed under arrest. 

Officers located a handgun in the vehicle and the driver was found to not have a driver’s license. Upon speaking with the caller from the original assault complaint, they advised that the suspects entered the residence by forcing their way in through the front door.  A physical altercation occurred between the resident and the suspects prior to the suspects leaving with threats being made with the handgun.

Officers arrested a 22-year-old male from Mishawaka, who is lodged at the Cass County Jail on charges of home invasion, felony firearm, felonious assault and resisting & obstructing a police officer.  The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old female, was arrested on charges of home invasion, carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm and driving without a license. The suspects’ names are being withheld pending their arraignment in District Court.

Dowagiac police officers were assisted at the scene by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and CCSO K9 Faust, Pokagon Tribal Police, Dowagiac Fire Department and PRIDE EMS.