ARNOLD
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Law enforcement officials say they are pleased with the peaceful resolution of what they are calling, “a very tense situation for a couple of hours that could have ended not so well.”
Max W. Arnold, 30, of 628 Kenny Lane, Marysville, was arrested Friday evening. Law enforcement officials say he will be charged with inducing panic.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said deputies went to Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant to serve a felony warrant on Arnold. According to court records, in July Arnold was indicted on three counts of rape, two counts of possession of criminal tools, and one count each of sexual battery, felonious assault, solicitation, intimidation and tampering with evidence.
When deputies entered the auto plant at about 2:45 p.m., Friday, Arnold ran and allegedly grabbed a fire ax. According to a statement from the Sheriff’s office, Arnold “threatened deputies who were pursuing him.”
Honda officials said Arnold was working at the facility as a “contracted associate.”
Arnold climbed approximately thirty feet onto a mezzanine on the top of a production press inside the plant. He then refused to drop the ax and threatened to hurt himself.
According to the release, additional deputies, security from the Honda plant, crisis negotiators, the Allen Township Fire Department and a special response team from the Marysville Division of Police responded to the plant.
Patton said negotiators tried talking with the man who continued to hold the ax and threaten himself and others.
Honda officials said associates were moved to central internal locations for communication updates.
“Associate safety has not been at risk and is not currently at risk,” according to a release from the auto maker.
Patton said that at about 7 p.m., negotiations began to “deteriorate.”
“Special response team members approached the suspect and subdued him,” according to the release.
Patton said the situation was, “resolved and nobody ended up hurt, which was everybody’s goal.”
Arnold was evaluated by EMS on the scene. Patton said Arnold was medically cleared and taken to the Tri-County Regional Jail and will be charged with inducing panic.
He said that when suspects are threatening self-harm, “the jail wants to make sure they are O.K. to go into and be housed at the facility.
“Kudos go to all the safety services on the scene,” Patton said. “The individual involved was not hurt so that is an accomplishment, to get to that outcome. All of the safety service personnel went home safely. No members of the public were hurt. Once that happens, we feel like we have accomplished our mission.”
As of press time, Arnold remains in Tri-County Regional Jail. He is scheduled to make a court appearance today.