Hours after a man with an extensive criminal history barricaded himself inside a Smyrna apartment complex and prompted a standoff early Friday, police took the man into custody.
About 3 a.m., officers received a call about a domestic dispute at the Brighton Way Apartment Homes on Parkway Avenue, Smyrna police spokesman Louis Defense said.
Police were familiar with the address. Officers have gone there “on numerous occasions,” Defense said.
When they got to the scene, Chief of Police David Lee said they found a woman who had jumped from the second-floor balcony to escape a “vicious assault and strangulation.”
Police tried to make contact with Jamil Vernon Williams, who was in the apartment, Defense said.
“He told them to go away and barricaded himself inside of the apartment,” Defense said.
Hostage negotiators talked with Williams for several hours, to no avail.
“After hours of failed negotiations with Mr. Williams,” Lee said, “and his refusal to surrender peacefully, two tactical elements were deployed in an effort to persuade Mr. Williams to surrender.”
At around 8 a.m., police used a chemical agent. Soon after, Williams surrendered peacefully, officials said.
Williams was taken to the Smyrna City Jail and charged with aggravated assault, simple battery and obstruction.
The woman’s condition was not known.
