A SWAT standoff lasting more than 10 hours ended with the suspect surrendering peacefully to officers about midnight on Thursday, April 28, at a residence in the Sterling on the Lake neighborhood in Flowery Branch.
Officers with the Flowery Branch Police Department responded to a request Wednesday, April 27, to perform a welfare check on a man, later identified as Jacob Lee Hill, 30, who lived at the residence in the 6800 block of Lake Overlook Lane. According to police, Hill had been threatening to harm himself, which prompted the 911 call.
According to law enforcement, officers were threatened by Hill, who was holding a firearm. Hill not only threatened the officers but continued to threaten to do harm to himself. The Hall County SWAT was called in when Hill fired one shot inside the home.
Negotiators with the SWAT team worked to get Hill to surrender peacefully. Hill instead fired off two more shots inside the home.
“Around midnight, SWAT officers determined they would have to force Hill from the residence,” the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “They deployed a less-than-lethal chemical agent into the house and Hill surrendered peacefully about 20 minutes later.”
Nearby residents were unable to return home during the long standoff as Flowery Branch Police had shut down access to homes in the general vicinity of Lake Overlook Lane and Scarlett Oak Way.
“This was a team effort all around,” Flowery Branch Police Chief Chris Hulsey said. “Neighbors were very patient because we had roads closed in the neighborhood and they couldn’t get home until very late. I also commend the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and their SWAT Team for helping to bring this incident to a peaceful end.”
Despite shots being fired, no one was injured during the standoff.
“We’re thankful for the positive outcome of this very tense situation,” said Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. “Our SWAT members and officers from the Flowery Branch Police Department worked together in tandem through the night and we’re just glad the incident was resolved without anyone being hurt.”
Hill was arrested and escorted to the Hall County Jail. He faces charges of two counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer and four counts of terroristic threats.
