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Indiana Man Arrested After 8-Hour Standoff With Police

VALPARAISO, Ind. (STMW) -- After more than eight hours in an armed stand off, Porter County Sheriff's Police took a Jackson Township man into custody Wednesday night.

The capture came about 9 p.m., about two hours after police sent a robot into the his home at 363 N 1050 E to search for him.

Porter County Sheriff's Spokesman Sgt. Larry LaFlower said they would not have charges for Eric Martin III until Thursday.

Prior to the arrest, police had last heard from Martin about 2 p.m. when he fired shots at sheriff officers, causing police to close County Road 1050 East between 350 East and 400 East.

No one has been hurt, and a SWAT team had been at the home since about 12:45 p.m.

The situation began when police came to the home to serve papers to take Martin in for a mental health observation, after an older relative living with him was taken to Chesterton Medical Clinic.

Martin allegedly struck the man repeatedly and held a knife to his throat.

The order to pick up Martin was issued by Porter Superior Court Judge William Alexa, although his staff said that formal public papers won't be available until Thursday after his mental health provider forwards paperwork.

Law enforcement first became involved around 11:50 a.m. when medical staff called Chesterton police about the older man, who had bruising, swelling and redness around his head and face and lacerations to the neck where Martin held the knife, LaFlower said.

The man was able to get away from Martin, and his wife took him to the medical center.

When police went to the home with a key from the man and his wife, Martin shut the door, barricaded it and told police he had a weapon, LaFlower said.

The emergency response team went to the house about 12:45 p.m.

Police have had no contact with Martin since about 2:30 p.m.

LaFlower said the sheriff's department had dealt with Martin two years before.

Electronic court records show that an Eric S. Martin, 45, of the address where the suspect is holed up.

The file was opened in the court of Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford on December 2007 with an emergency mental health detention the day after Christmas.

The court reopened the file in July 2009 and also ordered a temporary commitment in December 2010.

However, the public does not have access to court mental health records and further details.

Eric S. Martin was also charged about that time with Class D felony battery by bodily waste and two Class A misdemeanors, resisting law enforcement and battery.

Those charges were dismissed in November 2011.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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