Lima man arrested after 4-hour standoff

10/20/2005

LIMA, Ohio A Lima man held police at bay for more than four hours before being arrested yesterday on three charges.

Rodney Decker, 27, was being held in the Allen County jail on charges of obstructing official business, misconduct at an emergency, and domestic violence.

Lt. Michael Keith said officers were called to Mr. Decker s Brice Avenue home about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a domestic dispute.

When they arrived, Mr. Decker s live-in girlfriend, Benigna Puckett, 46, met the officers at the front door, and Mr. Decker headed out the back. He later went back in the house and refused to come out.

Hostage negotiators and the special response team were called in because police knew Mr. Decker had a firearm inside, Lieutenant Keith said. Officers broke into the house about 1:45 a.m. and arrested Mr. Decker without incident.