A Bellefontaine woman wanted on a nationwide warrant was taken into custody Friday night after police surrounded a North Elm Street residence and conducted a lengthy search with the Bellefontaine Police Department’s Special Response Team and K-9 Pyro.
According to the Bellefontaine Police Department, officers went to the area of Watson Way and North Elm Street just before 9 PM after receiving information that Johnda Daniels, 39, of Bellefontaine, was behind her residence at 112 North Elm Street.
Daniels was wanted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for violating a court order.
As officers arrived, they saw Daniels go back inside the residence.
Officers ordered her to come back outside, but she refused.
Police established a perimeter around the home while confirming the warrant with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
After Daniels failed to respond to repeated public address announcements, members of the Bellefontaine Police Department’s Special Response Team arrived to assist.
Officers evacuated the neighboring apartment and advised nearby residents to remain inside while the operation continued.
Police eventually forced entry into the residence, where they encountered two men.
Both were detained while officers continued searching for Daniels.
The men initially denied that Daniels was inside the home, according to the report.
Officers deployed a drone to search the residence, but the cluttered conditions inside prevented it from locating Daniels.
The Special Response Team and K-9 Pyro then searched the home room by room.
While clearing the basement, officers discovered loose boards in a wall that led directly into the basement of the adjoining apartment.
Believing Daniels had crossed into the neighboring residence through the opening, officers forced entry into the second apartment.
Daniels responded to officers’ commands and surrendered without incident.
According to police, Daniels admitted she kicked the boards out of the basement wall to escape into the adjoining apartment after realizing officers were outside.
She also admitted hearing repeated announcements ordering her to surrender but said she was scared.
Daniels was transported to the Shelby County line, where she was turned over to deputies from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on the outstanding warrant.
Police say one of the men’s cell phones was seized as evidence, and additional charges are pending against Daniels and the two men for their alleged roles in the incident.
