Man barricades himself in girlfriend’s residence, refuses to surrender for five hours

WATERVLIET TOWNSHIP, Mich.—  Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a 43-year-old resident’s request to check her residence under suspicion that her boyfriend was using her home to hide. 

Once on scene, authorities say 35-year-old Joshua Peterson of Hartford City barricaded himself in a bedroom while deputies searched the premises, threatening to shoot anyone who entered the room.

Deputies, troopers and officers spent five hours negotiating with Peterson for a peaceful surrender.

While no one was harmed, authorities say Peterson threw a utility knife at officers during the negotiations.

After hours of failed negotiations, authorities entered the room and used a police dog and other means to subdue and arrest Peterson.

Peterson reportedly held a piece of metal shaped like a handgun, though no guns were found on the premises.

The suspect was assessed on scene by Pride Care Ambulance Service for self-inflicted wounds before being transported to Spectrum Lakeland Hospital.

Later, Peterson was booked at Berrien County Jail for:

• Two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
• Four Counts of Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer
• Two valid criminal bench warrants from Van Buren County for Failure to Appear

The suspect will appear in both the Berrien County Trial Court and the Van Buren County court system.

Other agencies involved:

• Watervliet City Police Department
• Coloma Township Police Department
• Michigan State Police
• Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Tribal Police
• Pride Care Ambulance Service
• Watervliet Fire Department