Suspect arrested after snowplow injures four and flees, leading to police standoff

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – A suspect has been arrested and charged with assaulting an officer after an hours-long standoff with police on Interstate 71 Saturday.

Authorities were called to the area of Interstate 70 East and I-71 South on the report of a crash around 9:20 a.m. Four cars were involved in a pile up after a white truck with a snowplow attachment struck at least one vehicle, according to the Columbus Division of Police.

The driver, Michael Oswalt II, 41, threw a wrench and several other items at police, striking an officer. The officer was treated at the scene for a “serious injury” to the face, but did not need to be transported to a hospital, according to Columbus police. Four people total were injured, police said, with two transported to nearby hospitals precautionarily.

Oswalt fled the scene and was found a short time later in the area. He would not exit his vehicle, prompting Columbus police to request a SWAT team, police said.

Oswalt was taken into custody at about 1:40 p.m.

Police said Oswalt has been charged with one felony count of assaulting a police officer, and police will be requesting additional felony charges from a Grand Jury, as officers said they believe he intentionally went onto the freeway to cause harm. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, police said.

The incident resulted in multiple sections of the interstate closing for about five hours, which re-opened in late afternoon.

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