A man, wanted in Grand Rapids on a murder charge, is in custody after holding federal and local law enforcement officers at bay for several hours on Friday morning. He was barricaded inside a home in 9000 block of Dawes Street on the city’s west side.
“It was really chaotic and scary,” said Shevonne Jones who lives in a home across from where the standoff occurred.
According to Jones, officers surrounded the house with guns drawn and police dogs on standby. Inside the house was the prime suspect in the murder of a Holland woman nearly a month ago.
“It was really scary,” Jones emphasized. “And, they were hiding behind the truck.”
The truck Jones described was an armored vehicle with FBI markings. The standoff lasted several hours.
“It all started around 6 this morning,” said Jones.
Officers were trying to get Jermaine Cooper, 35, to surrender. Cooper is wanted by Grand Rapids Police in connection to the murder of Melissa Moore, 31, of Holland, on Nov. 6.
Shortly before 1 p.m., Jones says officers moved in to end the standoff.
“There were several flash bangs,” said Jones. “And, then, you could hear a lot of yelling and about 30 seconds later, they brought him out the front door.”
Several minutes later, Cooper, in handcuffs, was placed in the back seat of a pickup truck before being driven away from the scene.
Jones says she bought her home a few months ago and describes the neighborhood as nice and quiet. She says she had never seen Cooper before and was unaware that anyone had been staying in the house across from hers.
“I’m very happy they were able to resolve it peacefully,” said Jones. FBI spokeswoman Jill Washburn confirmed Cooper was in custody and nobody had been injured during the standoff.
The FBI has turned Cooper over to the Grand Rapids Police Department to face murder charges.
