SWAT Teams from the Johnston and Wayne County Sheriff’s Offices helped detain a suspect who had barricaded himself inside a home following a domestic incident.
Around 9:45pm Friday, Wayne County deputies were summoned to Bird Dog Lane in the Dudley community where a witness reported she and her sister had returned to a residence after shopping when the suspect, Steve Carlos Brown, assaulted her sister on the porch then drug her into the house and locked the door.
The witness reported she could still hear the man fighting and arguing after he took the victim into the house. Deputies attempted to make contact with the victim and suspect but no one responded. Officers discovered that the woman and 6 children were locked inside the residence by the suspect and were not allowed to leave or communicate with the officers.
The Wayne and Johnston County Sheriff’s Office SWAT teams were deployed and responded to the scene. For more than 2-1/2 hours hostage negotiators attempted to contact Brown by telephone and a PA system without success.
At one point a Johnston County Sheriff’s Office armored vehicle (BearCat) was able to safely drive officers beside the front door, activated a siren and attempted to talk to the occupants by a loud speaker but still could not get any response.
SWAT members then approached the front door and attempted to put a tactical telephone inside the front door of the residence to attempt another system of communication. As they approached the door SWAT team members observed some of the children in the residence. They decided to enter the residence and were able to secure Brown without further incident.
Brown was charged with domestic assault and kidnapping. He was placed in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $100,000.00 secured bond.
“We are very thankful that this situation was brought to a safe conclusion,” Sheriff Larry M. Pierce said. “I want to express my appreciation to all of the officers involved as well as the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.”
