Standoff ends with suspect being subdued

STAFF REPORT

SALEM — What police say started as an attempt to contact a resident about an earlier arrest ended in a nearly 11‚Ñ2-hour standoff at an East 6th Street home.

Police went about 5:15 a.m. Friday to 743 E. 6th St. to contact the resident, John Spence, 29, regarding paperwork from an earlier arrest.

When they arrived, police saw Spence inside the home holding a shotgun and also saw a woman inside the home.

One of the officers began talking to Spence and persuaded the woman, believed to be Spence’s wife, to leave the house. Perry Township police, additional city officers and units from the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrived to assist.

Eventually, Spence stepped onto the back porch holding a sword. While a city officer tried to get control of the sword, an OSHP trooper used a Taser on Spence, and Spence was restrained and taken in to custody.

Spence was transported to Salem Community Hospital for evaluation.

No additional charges have been filed pending further investigation.