COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three people were arrested during a SWAT standoff on the West Side Monday, including the suspect in the robbery that started the incident.
Jason Righter surrendered after holing up in a S. Central Avenue home for more than four hours after he and two other people mugged a man outside a bar, Robbery Unit detectives said.
Police say Righter, 52, and an unidentified man and woman attacked and robbed James Hunt, 27, outside the Rocky Top bar near the corner of Central and Sullivant Avenues at 11:00 p.m. Sunday.
They say the unidentified man pointed a handgun at Hunt when he refused to hand over his money and Righter joined him and the woman in assaulting Hunt, stealing his money.
Hunt reported seeing Righter and the others run toward Righter’s home at 328 S. Central Avenue where they refused to come out after officer surrounded the house, police said.
The SWAT team was called in and several people came out of the house, including one person who was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, detectives said.
When Righter and the others still refused to surrender, the SWAT officers used tear gas to chase three more people into the street at about 4:00 a.m. Monday, one of whom was the subject of two misdemeanor warrants, police said.
SWAT officers found Righter hiding in an upstairs bedroom and investigators say Hunt identified him as the man who mugged him.
Righter has been charged with aggravated robbery and the search continues for the mn and woman who helped him.