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Hours-long standoff ends peacefully in Stratford

STRATFORD — A standoff in Stratford that lasted a little more than five hours Wednesday night ended peacefully with a suspect being arrested on multiple charges.

Law enforcement officers responded to 1472 350th St. in Stratford at 6:47 p.m. Wednesday after a woman reported that her son, Christopher Fawcett, 33, was out of control and possibly armed, according to Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons.

Upon their arrival, Timmons said deputies learned the man had fired gunshots inside the home and had barricaded himself inside.

Because of the circumstances, deputies called in a tactical team and negotiator from the Iowa State Patrol to help resolve the situation.

After a little more than five hours of negotiation, Fawcett was arrested without incident shortly before midnight.

He was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

An Iowa Courts Online search Thursday afternoon did not reveal if Fawcett has had his initial appearance yet.

In addition to the Iowa State Patrol, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Ellsworth-Jewell-Stratford Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department and its K-9, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Stratford Fire and Rescue.

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