By james art An hours-long standoff at an extended stay motel in Baton Rouge on Wednesday ended with the arrest of a man wanted on domestic violence charges, authorities said.
Agents with the US Marshals Office task force found Joshua Cryer, 24, of Baton Rouge, at the Crown Efficiency Extended Stay Motel at 7217 Airline Hwy around 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Cryer was wanted on charges of domestic violence with a dangerous weapon and violation of a protection order in connection with a Sept. 18 incident in which he allegedly “hit and threw” his ex-partner and mother of his children before hitting her with a pot from the kitchen, according to a warrant for his arrest.
When marshals arrived Wednesday, Cryer barricaded himself in his room and threatened to harm himself. At that point, the sheriffs notified the Baton Rouge Police Department and a SWAT team was dispatched.
“They kept the area secure and did the heavy lifting,” said Deputy Chief Josh Reich of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The standoff lasted about four hours before Cryer was removed from the room. Cryer was taken from the scene by ambulance after reporting a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Reich said. No law enforcement officers were injured.
“Having opposition is pretty routine in this town,” Reich added.
He estimated that sheriffs in his office respond to fugitive encounters monthly, working hand-in-hand with BRPD and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
Marshals are tasked with searching for fugitives who have evaded arrest at the local level.