Hours Long Standoff Leads To Suspect’s Arrest In New Port Richey

Suspect In Custody

Following a standoff inside a New Port Richey motel, a suspect has been taken into custody.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team forced the man wanted for attempted murder out of a motel room on Tuesday afternoon. Michael Putnam’s arrest warrant was issued on Oct. 18 for attempted homicide and felon in possession of a firearm after.

Authorities warned the public that Putnam was armed and dangerous and to use extremem caution. They then learned that Putnam was holed up inside a room at the Rodeway Inn on U.S. 19 N. on Monday morning.

Deputies evacuated the motel and asked people to stay away from the area while negotiations took place.

Around 1:45 p.m. the SWAT team began forcing the man from the room. They broke the window of a motel room on the bottom floor and threw tear gas inside. Soon after the barricaded man jumped out of the window and was taken into custody.

He seemed to be uninjured but was escorted to an ambulance waiting at the scene and was taken away in the ambulance.

Wanted Suspect Barricades Himself In Motel

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has closed parts of US 19 in New Port Richey as deputies negotiate with a wanted person that is barricaded inside a room at a motel.

Guests at the Rodeway Inn located at 6826 U.S. 19 N. in New Port Richey have been evacuated, said a sheriff’s office spokesperson.

The suspect has a warrant out for his arrest with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies are in contact with the suspect and are working to bring him out peacefully.

The north and southbound lanes of U.S. 19 from Avery to Main have also been closed in an attempt to keep people away from the area.

This is a developing story, check back with News Talk Florida for new updates in this case.