MATTAWAN (WKZO-AM) — A 36-year-old Van Buren County man who allegedly held two family members hostage at knifepoint is in custody after a stand-off Tuesday afternoon a home on 24th Street near Mattawan.
The man had flattened the tires on their car and threatened the two with a four-inch knife. One of the victims managed to dive out a window and call for help.
The suspect barricaded himself in the home north of Brownstone Boulevard armed only with the knife, and it took an hour to get him to surrender. A deputy was assaulted, sustaining minor injuries during the arrest.
The man is being held for felony assault, assaulting a police officer, attempted kidnapping and malicious destruction of property for slashing the tires.
– John McNeill