13-Hour Police Standoff In Atmore Ends With Arrest

April 21, 2020

A 13-hour police standoff ended with a suspect in custody Tuesday night in Atmore.

John Bradley James was taken into custody about 8 p.m. He is charged with two counts of kidnapping first degree, and Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told NorthEscambia.com that additional charges will be filed on Wednesday.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Brooks said he received a phone call about 7 a.m. from a personal friend reporting a domestic situation on Sneed Drive.

James went out to smoke about 5 a.m. and his father followed. James “became extremely irritated. He then threatened to kill his father and then fired a warning shot into the air,” Brooks said.

James then held his mother and father against their will for a couple of hours until the mother was able to sneak out of the home, and he later allowed the father to leave the home after Brooks arrived on scene, the chief said. There were originally two small children also in the home

Brooks said James made statements that he would kill people and injure officers if they came into the house.

An armored tactical vehicle from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and a SWAT team made their way to the home on Sneed Drive about 5:30 p.m. For the next couple of hours, our reporter was able to hear a negotiator on a loudspeaker urging James to come out of the home. Periodically,  there was also the sound of teargas canisters being fired into the home.

Brooks said they were able to communicate with James for a few minutes, but he stopped responding

“At that time, we made a decision to go ahead ahead and start putting teargas into the home, the chief said, adding that there were no gunshots fired during the incident.

James was not injured.

For a photo gallery, click here.

The Atmore Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency all responded .

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “13-Hour Police Standoff In Atmore Ends With Arrest”

  1. Haha on April 23rd, 2020 7:45 pm

    I love reading the comments in articles like this. It’s amazing how ignorant the readers are. Do you all realize what tactics need to be used for situations as such? Do you know the equipment needed for incidents where people are homicidal/ suicidal? You don’t! So stop Monday morning quarterbacking the tactics and equipment used for this situation and be thankful these resources are available to small towns like Atmore of the need them!

  2. Retired LEO on April 23rd, 2020 8:51 am

    Chris, what’s wrong with Baldwin County having an armored vehicle? Active shooter incidents happen in rural areas too. It’s a tool to save lives if needed.

  3. Chris on April 22nd, 2020 6:24 pm

    @dola: even more odd to me is the fact that Baldwin County has armored vehicles ready to roll.

  4. BabyGirl on April 22nd, 2020 2:46 pm

    How in the hell was this guy let out of Pensacola jail less than 6wks after being caught with two guns, drug paraphernalia and 32 grams of meth as well as tramadol and an unknown powder substance? And they wonder why the possibility of jail isn’t a detternt from behavior like this. With the benefit of 3 hots and a cot, no bills to pay and short sentences it’s no wonder we have so many repeat offenders

  5. Mary Ann on April 22nd, 2020 9:10 am

    Good memory, Kel.

  6. Kathy Morace on April 22nd, 2020 6:25 am

    Just everyone give the Good Lord and prayers going up on this Family’s behalf that all came out without injury. Prayers for the family.

  7. Dola on April 22nd, 2020 3:47 am

    Odd, Atmore had to call Baldwin County? I thought this was Escambia County.

  8. Harold Wilson on April 22nd, 2020 12:26 am

    Prayers for the family….

  9. Kel on April 21st, 2020 11:17 pm

    I recognize his face. Wasn’t he the subject of another news article on here recently? Oh wait he was: http://www.northescambia.com/2020/03/atmore-man-facing-drug-charges I’m kinda getting the vibe he shouldn’t have been let out in the first place, what do you all think? LOL