A stand-off with police that had St Rd 64 closed for around 8 hours ended peacefully just before midnight on Thursday.
Police took 76 year old Virgil Lee Crews into custody after a long waited stand off. Crews is suspected of shooting out the window of a county highway grader that was working on Pine Ridge Road yesterday afternoon.
At 3 p.m. on Thursday, a Dubois County Highway Department employee was grading the road along Pine Ridge Road, just off of St. Rd 64 near Birdseye, when he saw a man standing at a mailbox of 4715.
After seeing the man standing near the roadway the window of the grader was shot out with the broken glass causing minor cuts to the county employee’s face. He was able to exit the equipment, leave the area and call 911.
Members of the Indiana State Police Hostage Crisis Negotiating Team and SWAT were called after Crews barricaded himself in a house along Pine Ridge Road.
At 11:13 pm after several hours of communicating with Crews, Indiana State Police SWAT breached the front door with Crews surrendering peacefully. He was taken to Jasper Memorial Hospital for evaluation before being taken to the Dubois County Security Center. 76 year old Crews is being charged with Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm and Battery.
Lt. Allen, Commander of the Jasper Post said that the police and all involved were pleased that the incident ended peacefully and that no one was seriously injured.
Lt. Allen thanked everyone that assisted with this detail and said “The peaceful outcome was truly a team effort,” said Lt. Allen, Commander of the Jasper Post.”
State Road 64 was closed during the event but was officially re-opened at 11:45 pm.
Investigators are asking for anyone who might have been in the area at the time the shooting occurred to call the Indiana State Police Jasper Post at 812-482-1441.
Assisting Agencies: Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Conservation Officers, Ferdinand Police Department, American Red Cross, SE District School Corporation
