North Judson Man Arrested Following Standoff

SWAT team members debrief after Tuesday's call-out in North Judson.
SWAT team members debrief after Tuesday’s call-out in North Judson.

An hour-long standoff between police and a wanted man outside a home in Born’s Trailer Park east of North Judson ended peacefully this afternoon. Detective Kenny Pfost with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office says officers tried to serve warrants on Shannon Watts for probation and parole violations. Pfost adds officers were told there were weapons inside the residence. Watts refused to come out of the trailer, so the officer who initially responded requested assistance from the SWAT team. Pfost says six officers surrounded the trailer while other members staged at the rest park on State Road 10 at county road 250 West.

“He was arrested without incident. Two other subjects came out of the house while we were detaining Watts, and I don’t believe there’s going to be charges against them at this point,” Pfost said.

Additional charges against Watts are pending. He was taken to the Starke County Jail, and officers are in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the trailer. The standoff lasted about an hour.