Police stand-off ends peacefully

PHOTO: VIRGINIA GOFORTH A police stand-off in a neighborhood on the east side of Rusk ended peacefully Monday night. Joseph Daniel Crenshaw was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors. A police stand-off ended peacefully Monday after police fired tear gas into a residence where a man had threatened a woman's life with a loaded shotgun.

A SWAT team from Cherokee County assisted Rusk police at 235 E. Hill St. following a 911 call that was logged at 5:59 p.m.

A caller from the home indicated that an intoxicated man was attempting to leave the house and drive a vehicle.

Officer Jason Mott was the first to arrive at the home and was met at the front entrance by a 60-year-old woman who said her common-law spouse was intoxicated.

She claimed he had assaulted her and threatened to kill her and the police.

At that time the suspect, Joseph Daniel Crenshaw, 56, was in the bedroom with a loaded shotgun.

The woman was removed from the home and calls for backup were made, said Roy Cavazoz, Rusk Police Dept. assistant chief.

A perimeter was set around the residence, and Hill Street was closed to traffic between U.S. Highway 69 and Bonner Street. For the next

two and a half hours attempts were made by the SWAT negotiator to contact the suspect with a loud speaker and by telephone.

After attempts failed to get the suspect to exit the house and surrender, the SWAT team fired tear gas into the residence. Shortly thereafter, the suspect came to the front door and was arrested.

Mr. Crenshaw was charged with family violence and assault and for making terroristic threats - both misdemeanors.

He has two outstanding arrest warrants for a motion to adjudicate for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and failure to appear.

He was arraigned Tuesday morning and is being held in the Cherokee County Jail.

Bonds on the family violence cases were set at $4,000 and no bond was set concerning the prior charges.

"The Rusk Police Department would like to thank Sheriff (James) Campbell and his SWAT team for a swift response to this situation.

"Their assistance was essential in allowing the suspect to be taken into custody with no injuries. Sheriff Campbell has a great team," said Assistant Chief Cavazoz. State troopers, six Rusk police officers, 12-14 deputies from the sheriff 's department, including the Cherokee County SWAT team, responded. A stand-by ambulance was positioned at the perimeter.