CRESTON, IA — A man wanted on felony burglary warrants in Polk County surrendered Tuesday after barricading himself inside a home in Creston for several hours, according to police. The standoff ended when he crawled out onto the roof and then climbed down a ladder into custody.

Creston Police Chief Cameron Hale identified the man as Jerry Williams of Lenox. Hale said Williams had been staying at the house in the 300 block of North Elm, though it was not his official residence. No injuries were reported, and police said the confrontation caused only minimal damage.

Police say Williams shut himself inside after officers arrived to serve warrants

Hale said officers went to the home around 10 a.m. Tuesday to serve the warrants. When they arrived, Williams shut the door and barricaded himself inside, refusing repeated orders to come out. Police said the situation remained contained to the house throughout the incident.

Hale also said Williams has a history of violent tendencies, which raised the stakes for officers on scene. He said no one else was inside the home during the standoff. Officers later confirmed that no weapons were found in the house once Williams was taken into custody.

Windows were broken as officers tried to see inside the house

As the standoff stretched on, officers broke several windows to get a better view of what was happening inside. Neighbors told KCCI they could hear that Williams was upset and said he did not want to return to prison. One nearby resident described the incident as unusual for the quiet neighborhood.

The neighbor said people in the area are usually calm and friendly, and that the man appeared to be having a difficult time. Police continued trying to reach Williams while keeping watch on the home, but negotiations did not lead to a quick surrender.

State and county agencies joined Creston police at the scene

The Iowa State Patrol and the Union County Sheriff’s Office assisted Creston police during the standoff. Hale said a state patrol negotiator spoke with Williams by phone in an effort to bring the situation to a peaceful end.

Those conversations were not successful, according to Hale. With the man still inside and refusing to come out, officers stayed at the scene and worked to pressure him into leaving while limiting the risk to neighbors and responding officers.

Chemical munitions pushed smoke through the house before surrender

Around 4 p.m., a state trooper fired nearly a dozen rounds of chemical munitions, similar to tear gas, into the home. Hale said the tactic was meant to force Williams outside. Smoke poured from the windows, and the odor spread as intended.

About 15 minutes later, around 4:15 p.m., a KCCI crew watched Williams crawl onto the roof and climb down a ladder before police took him into custody. Hale said there were no injuries and only minor property damage after the use of the chemical munitions.

Police say the standoff showed the uncertainty officers face

After the arrest, Hale said incidents like this carry significant risk because officers cannot know what a person inside a barricaded home is thinking or capable of doing. He said Williams had told officers he would not go back to prison, which underscored how unpredictable the encounter could have become.

Hale said that fear of returning to prison can lead people to make dangerous choices. In this case, though, the standoff ended without gunfire, injuries, or a broader threat to the neighborhood, allowing officers to resolve the situation after hours of negotiation and containment.