Man arrested following standoff

A Battle Creek man was arrested this week following a standoff at an abandoned Nottawa Township residence.

Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said a woman driving west on Findley Road noticed a man entering the house, which had been abandoned since being destroyed by fire two years ago. The passerby is a relative of the homeowner and, around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, notified the sheriff’s department about the alleged squatter.

Authorities surrounded the residence, located in the 27000 block of Findley Road, knowing the suspect was wanted as the result of a domestic-disturbance situation in Nottawa the day before. The suspect refused to exit the house and negotiations continued for about nine hours, Lillywhite said.

Special Response Team members eventually entered the residence and the man was found hiding in a crawlspace before he was taken into custody.