OHIO — A 40-year-old man was arrested Sunday evening following a police standoff near the METRO Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center on South Broadway Street, according to the Akron Police Department.
Officers responded to the area around 5:30 p.m. in an effort to locate Paul Thornton, who was wanted in connection with a recent domestic disturbance and had outstanding warrants from a previous incident.
Police say that when an officer approached Thornton, he pulled a gun and pointed it at the officer before fleeing on foot.
He was later found hiding near businesses in the area of South Broadway Street and East Thornton Street.
The Akron SWAT Team and police negotiators were called in, and Thornton eventually surrendered after discarding the weapon. Authorities later determined the gun was a BB gun.
Thornton was charged with obstructing official business and domestic violence menacing. He was taken to the Summit County Jail.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2TIP. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Summit County Crimestoppers by calling 330-434-COPS, texting TIPSCO to 274637, or visiting www.AkronCops.org.
