A 31-year-old man was taken into custody overnight after barricading himself in a Winter Haven home with his 3-year-old son.
- No injuries after overnight Winter Haven standoff
- Police took Elbert Hale Wampler III, 31, into custody just after 4 a.m.
- Wampler, who was holed up in home for hours, charged with domestic violence
The standoff ended peacefully after about six hours.
Police took Elbert Hale Wampler III, 31, into custody just after 4 a.m.
Officers said Wampler holed up in the house after a violent, drunken outburst.
Wampler and his wife were in a verbal altercation at their Michelle Street home that turned physical. Wampler, who was heavily intoxicated, began throwing items in the home and breaking furniture, according to police.
The argument escalated and Wampler screamed for his wife to leave the house. Wampler grabbed the child from the mother's arms and she left the home and called police, officers said.
When officers arrived on scene, Wampler was inside of the home alone with the boy, but was not responding to commands to exit the home. According to Wampler's wife, there was a handgun inside of the home.
Winter Haven police, along with assistance from the Polk County Sherrif's Office, set up a perimeter around the house. Wampler ultimately came out of the home and officers were able to enter the home and found the boy sleeping in his bedroom unharmed.
Wampler will be charged with domestic violence.