Man arrested, child dead after lengthy SWAT standoff in Elkhart County

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. — A man was arrested after a lengthy standoff with police in Elkhart County.

According to a press release, deputies with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 57000 block of Pendleton Drive around 9:06 p.m. Saturday to conduct a welfare check. The subjects police were asked to check on were identified as an adult male and his two children.

At the scene, deputies were unable to contact the man — though police later confirmed he was at the residence they were dispatched to.

Law enforcement reported that the man was armed during the incident. He also threatened to harm his children and police.

The Elkhart County Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team responded to the scene at approximately 12:09 a.m. Sunday. The SWAT team secured the area upon its arrival and again attempted to make contact with the man.

Police indicated that the man continually refused to exit the home. He ultimately discharged a firearm and further barricaded himself inside the residence.

Local law enforcement later requested assistance from the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team. ISP reported that its team took control of the scene Sunday morning.

After their attempts to contact the man repeatedly proved to be unfruitful, police forced entry into the home and took the man into custody. The suspect was later identified as 37-year-old Ryan Snyder.

Once they entered the home, state police found a 2-year-old boy dead inside.

Another juvenile was also located inside the residence. She was treated at the scene and then released to a family member.

ISP indicated Snyder was taken to a local hospital for a checkout after the incident. He was then incarcerated at the Elkhart County Jail.

Per ISP, the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case and make final charging decisions against Snyder.

In total, the standoff lasted more than 18 hours, according to state police. As of this article’s publication, no additional information on the standoff had been made available.

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