JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – An attempted homicide suspect was arrested Thursday night after a SWAT standoff prompted evacuations in Jacksonville Beach, authorities said.
The Jacksonville Beach Police Department said it was working with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to locate Brian Kenneth Jones, 33, who was wanted on a warrant charging him with attempted homicide.
Sgt. Tommy Crumley, with the Police Department, said a tactical team responded about 4 p.m. to an apartment on Seventh Street South at Third Avenue South after investigators learned Jones was in one of the units.
“When I pulled up I was pretty surprised," said Scott Babbitt, who's lived in the area for six months. "I had no idea what was going on. I ran up to my room and Googled what was going on and saw something about a warrant suspect.”
As a precaution, Crumley said, officers evacuated several homes and blocked off Seventh Street South between Third Avenue South and Fourth Avenue South as heavily armed members of the Jacksonville Beach special operations team took position around the apartment building.
At one point, officers could be heard using a loudspeaker to convince the suspect to surrender.
After several hours of negotiating, Jones came out willing just before 8:30 p.m. and was taken to the Duval County jail, Crumley said.
It's unknown whether Jones lived in the unit or whether anyone else was inside at the time. No injuries were reported.
Residents were able to return shortly after the standoff ended.