54-year-old James Michael Jr., the Seward man who was taken into custody yesterday after a police standoff, simply refused to answer the door when state troopers arrived to serve a warrant on him, although he apparently did not threaten anyone.
Trooper Stephen Limani says a state police warrant team went to Michael’s home at the request of the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s office, who had been unsuccessful on multiple occasions when they attempted to serve a warrant on him for failure to appear in court.
Michael faces weapons charges in connection with a driving under the influence stop by Ligonier Township police last February. Michael would not answer the door yesterday morning, but police believed he was inside. Because the warrant involved weapons, the state police Special Emergency Response Team was summoned. They blocked traffic from the area surrounding the house. When he was finally taken into custody without incident shortly before noon, Michael was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison in Greensburg.
