Photo: WOWT 6 News
(Omaha, NE) -- A suspect that was found inside of a clothes dryer during a standoff with law enforcement was wanted on strangulation and assault charges.
Court records indicate that the barricaded man police arrested Thursday afternoon is 31 year old Jessie H. Smith, of West Des Moines, Iowa. The Metro Fugitive Task Force had been searching for the man for some time and as members of the team attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a home near Park Avenue and Dodge Street, Smith barricaded himself inside the home.
At the scene, officers encountered two women, four children and a large dog they described as “potentially aggressive”. Police say the people inside were cooperative and confirmed that Smith was inside with several guns. After a lengthy standoff, police eventually found Smith hiding in a dryer. They also confirmed several weapons were found.
Court records indicate that Smith was wanted for assault, strangulation, and possession of a gun by a prohibited person. On July 6th, Smith reportedly hit a woman in the face and head. The woman said he grabbed her neck and squeezed it making it difficult to breathe. During the assault, the woman said Smith pointed a gun at her and she ran in an attempt to get her own gun. A witness pulled his own gun, an AR-15, and successfully ordered Smith to drop his weapon. Court records indicate the witness then drove Smith away from the scene. The victim told police nine children were in the home at the time and some of them may have witnessed the incident.
Smith also had two felony warrants for crimes in Polk County, Iowa.