Man faces kidnapping, child endangering charges after 13-hour standoff

Derrick J. Lewis, 30, is specifically facing two counts of felonious assault, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of child endangering, one count of domestic violence, one count of inducing panic, one count of having weapons while under disability and one count of discharging a firearm on or near houses, according to the Montgomery County Jail website.

His next court date is scheduled for Monday.

UPDATE @ 1:02 a.m. (Jan. 4): 

Police have identified a man who was arrested after he reportedly shot at police officers then took a woman and two boys as hostages, leading to a nearly 13-hour standoff on Briarwood Avenue.

Derrick Lewis, 30, is currently facing charges including felonious assault, charges from a weapons complaint, and additional charges to be announced later.

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According to Dayton Police Major Christopher Malson, the standoff began as a weapons complaint just before 11 a.m., when officers went to the 400 block of Briarwood Avenue and tried to take Lewis into custody.

Lewis then pulled a weapon and fired two shots at the officers, but police did not return fire, Malson said.

From there, according to police Lewis took the woman and two boys as hostages, which began the SWAT response.

Malson said that one of the boys was Lewis’ biological son, and both boys were the woman’s children. It is unknown whether they lived in the house or were visiting.

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During the long standoff, hostage negotiators worked to try to get the suspect to release the hostages, but Malson said when children and hostages are involved SWAT units have to be very careful not to provoke some sort of violent response.

Despite this, police said that an “incident” occurred that forced SWAT to force their way into the apartment to try to save the hostages. They did not offer details of what the “incident” was, but said that the situation had escalated to the point they believed the three hostages were in imminent danger.

Once inside, Lewis and the hostages were secured without injury, Malson said, though the incident would likely be difficult for the hostages, particularly for the boys.

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“It’s a very tragic situation for them, especially the children, because they don’t understand everything that’s going on,” he said. “They’re with family, but they don’t understand the danger of the situation.”

Malson added that they had a medic and psychologist on scene to care for the hostages after they were taken out of the apartment.

All in all, Malson said that this is one of the longest standoffs he has been a part of. The only one that lasted longer occurred 16 years ago, and lasted for 18 hours, he said.

The investigation will continue overnight and with new detectives today.

UPDATE @ 12:15 a.m. (Jan. 4): The standoff on Briarwood Avenue involving police and an armed man has ended, we're being told by Montgomery County Regional Dispatch.

Police personnel on the scene are leaving.

We’re working to determine whether the man has been taken into custody and whether the children reportedly in the residence with him are safe in the aftermath of the standoff, which lasted nearly 13 hours.

UPDATE @ 7:25 p.m.:  (Jan. 3):

The standoff continues involving police and an armed man, who reportedly has children with him in the residence on Briarwood Avenue.

The Dayton Police Department minutes ago issued a tweet asking the public for patience and thanking citizens for continuing to avoid the area:

UPDATE @ 2:45 p.m.: 

Roads remain closed around Briarwood Avenue as a standoff between an armed person and police continues.

Police continue to urge anyone in the immediate area to shelter-in-place or call 937-225-4357 for assistance in evacuating.

Three RTA buses are on the scene and are assisting evacuations of nearby residents, the agency said in a tweet Friday afternoon.

Additional details have not been released.

Our crews remain on the scene and we’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

UPDATE @ 1:40 p.m.: 

Members of an FBI task force have responded and are assisting Dayton police and other crews as a SWAT standoff continues on Briarwood Avenue in Dayton, according to an FBI spokesperson.

“We do have some members of the Safe Streets Task Force on scene to assist as needed,” the spokesperson said.

The Safe Streets Task Force focuses on pursuing violent gangs on crimes like racketeering, drug conspiracy, and firearms violations, the spokesperson said.

The standoff continues after police said a person fired shots towards them around 11 a.m. from an apartment.

According to our crew on the scene, a Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority bus is on the scene to assist those who have been forced to evacuate the area due to the investigation.

Multiple roads remain blocked in the area, including North Smithville Road between Springfield Street and Rangeley Road.

UPDATE @ 1:15 p.m.: 

Deputies are assisting Dayton police by responding to other calls throughout the city as a SWAT standoff continues on Briarwood Avenue, according to a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

The standoff has entered a second hour after a person inside an apartment fired multiple shots at officers around 11 a.m.

Dayton police continue to urge anyone who remains in the 400 block of Briarwood Avenue to contact the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center at 937-225-4357 for assistance in evacuating.

Several roads remain blocked in the area, including North Smithville Road between Springfield Street and Rangeley Road.

Our crews remain on the scene and we’ll continue to update this story with the latest as it becomes available.

UPDATE: 12:15 p.m.: 

Dayton police are urging anyone in the 400 block of Briarwood Avenue in Dayton to stay inside their homes or call the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center for help being evacuated, the department said in a tweet.

For assistance in evacuating, you’re asked to call 937-225-4357.

UPDATE @ 12:05 p.m.: 

Dayton police confirm multiple shots were fired towards officers on Briarwood Avenue and an active investigation continues, according to a tweet posted by the department.

SWAT units have arrived on scene and evacuations of nearby apartments are reportedly underway.

We’ll continue to update this story with the latest as it becomes available.

UPDATE @ 11:45 a.m.: 

Police are working to evacuate surrounding apartments and building as an active investigation continues on Briarwood Avenue in Dayton.

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The incident started with police reporting a man fired shots towards them at an apartment on Briarwood Avenue around 11 a.m.

“He was at the front door just a minute ago when he shot at us," first units on the scene said, according to police scanner traffic.

“He said he was going to kill us. Then he shut the door on us,” officers said in the scanner traffic.

SWAT crews and armored officers have responded to the area, reports indicate.

UPDATE @ 11:20 a.m.: 

Shots were fired towards police by a person inside an apartment on Briarwood Avenue in Dayton, according to police scanner traffic.

Several officers from multiple jurisdictions have responded and have the building surrounded, scanner traffic indicates.

There have been no immediate reports of injuries. It was also unclear if any officers returned fire.

SWAT crews have reportedly been requested to the scene.

Smithville Road is blocked in both directions near Radio Road, just south of Springfield Street. Multiple streets surrounding the area of Smithville and Radio roads are also reportedly blocked by officers for the investigation.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

FIRST REPORT

Police issued a request for officer assistance after shots were fired on Briarwood Avenue in Dayton, according to initial reports.

There are also reports that police have requested SWAT crews.

We are working to learn more about the incident and have a crew on the way.