Police in an Indiana college town apprehended an armed transient Tuesday after searching a sewer system for hours.
Bloomington police responded to calls at about 9:30 a.m. concerning a man threatening people with a steel rod, USA Today reports. The suspect—Eli Swartzentruber, 37—also was said to have been wielding a hatchet, which threw at people. Bloomington is the home of Indiana University.
Once officers caught up with Swartzentruber, he fled into a storm drain and threatened to open fire with a rifle if anyone followed. Police called in backup and more equipment, and officers from multiple agencies responded to the standoff. Police tried to use a camera to keep in touch with Swartzentruber, but he eventually destroyed the device.
A police K-9 was brought in, and authorities were finally able to capture Swartzentruber at about 5:30 p.m. Once out of the storm drain, he was taken to the hospital.
A search of the storm drain found a machete, a hand scythe and rifle cartridges. Although Swartzentruber had an empty holster when he was apprehended, police have yet to find a gun in the sewers.
Swartzentruber was arrested and charged with attempted battery with a deadly weapon and intimidation, both felonies. He also was wanted by authorities in Monroe and Daviess counties.
