ANDERSON – Troopers from the Indiana State Police Pendleton District along with agents of the Indiana Department of Corrections Parole Division arrested a fugitive following a four-hour standoff this afternoon in Anderson, Indiana.
Shortly after 2:00 p.m. Parole Agents and ISP Detectives were tracking Barry J. Willis, a 47-year-old fugitive in the Anderson area. They were able to visually identify him outside a residence located at 1324 Menifee St. which is at the intersection of 14th Street inside the city limits of Anderson. Parole agents attempted to make contact with Willis, but he fled inside the residence. The homeowner, who was inside the residence, was able to escape without injury. He cooperated with law enforcement and verified Willis was the only occupant remaining inside the residence. Realizing the situation had turned into a barricade situation, officers held a perimeter around the residence and requested assistance from the Indiana State Police SWAT team.
Negotiators and SWAT team members attempted for over an hour to make contact with Willis by using a PA system. After numerous requests, the SWAT team used a BEARCAT (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck) to deploy gas into the residence in an attempt to flush Willis out of the residence. SWAT utilized a K9, SUAS (small unmanned aerial system), and a robot to enter the house. All tools were unsuccessful in locating Willis inside the residence. They deployed more gas into the attic area of the house. This last attempt was successful as Willis surrendered and was taken into custody.
Willis was wanted on a parole violation which had a nationwide extradition. The original charges associated with his arrest were Dealing Methamphetamine and Possession of a Handgun by a Serious Violent Felon. Willis was transported to the Madison County Jail.
