Police standoff

LINTON, Ind. (WTHI) - A Wabash Valley man remains in custody after holding off police in a stand-off for two and a half hours Saturday.

Jason Strandberg, 30, had just been released from jail one day earlier, July 3.

Linton police and other law enforcement officers surrounded his trailer on the 700 block of 2nd Street NE in Linton. Police said Strandberg was inside, displaying a knife from a window and threatening he had two guns and wasn't afraid to use them.

"We have to take it very seriously." said Linton Police Chief Troy Jerrell. "We don't have the luxury to say that we don't think he would do it. We just can't do that."

Police say it all started the morning of July 4 when an acquaintance of Strandberg's reported a stolen car. The acquaintance confronted Strandberg, got into a fight, then called police.

Neighbor Karen Fulford said Strandberg's live-in girlfriend admitted she had been dating the acquaintance when Strandberg was in jail.

"He used to mow our grass, he's just a good worker," said Fulford. "He just, can't seem to stay out of trouble."

After hours of trying to coax Strandberg out, police broke down the door and arrested him on his couch, no knife nearby, no guns at all inside.

"When it came to the point we felt like he was possibly going to be in there hurting himself and he quit talking to us, that is when we made entry, and not until then," said Jerrell.

Strandberg is currently under 72-hour observation at a Terre Haute treatment facility before he could face several charges.

Linton police say they recovered the stolen vehicle and stolen power tools at Strandberg's home.