Tenn. man arrested after standoff at Calhoun motel
CALHOUN — The man arrested following a standoff with police had a loaded handgun, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, fake identification documents, fake license plates, counterfeit money, an electronic card reader and computers and cash inside the Express Inn room where he barricaded himself for about three hours Tuesday, according to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office.
Wesley Swartout, 52, who gave his address as the Express Inn in Calhoun, was wanted on forgery charges out of Hamilton County, Tennessee, and was out of jail on bond after being arrested in Chattooga County in January on fraud, firearm and obstruction charges.
He is now being charged by the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office with aggravated assault against peace officers, firearm violations and fraud.
Schalles Williams, 52, of 211 Arrow Drive, Signal Mountain, Tennessee, was arrested outside of the hotel room before Swartout pulled out a weapon and barricaded himself inside. She was already wanted in Bradley County, Tennessee, on forgery charges. She is being held for that agency.
The sheriff’s office said in a press release on their website Wednesday that more charges are expected against both individuals.
The incident began Tuesday afternoon when deputies arrived at the hotel to investigate complaints about drug and counterfeiting activity. Williams was arrested without incident, but Swartout pulled a handgun, pointed it at deputies and ran into a room. A deputy fired at Swartout but he was not hit. The Georgia State Patrol SWAT team was called to the scene and eventually breached the room and filled it with tear gas before entering and detaining Swartout.