SWAT situation ends after suspect barricades himself, his daughter in home

TAMPA - A standoff between police and a suspect that had his 2-year-old along for the ride ended peacefully Thursday afternoon.

Authorities said that 27-year-old Willie Conner had his daughter in the car when he crashed into a fence and another vehicle, trying to run over police during an undercover drug deal.

Conner was arrested at his home, located on the 3000 block Arlington Avenue at 3:30 p.m.

Officers set up a drug buy with the suspect at 10:45 a.m., according to authorities.

When the officers arrived to the drug buy, Connor tried to run over officers with his 2000 Buick. He crashed into a fence, but still managed to flee in the vehicle.

The officers ran back to their vehicle, but Connor had already left the area.

The suspect ended up hitting a vehicle at 19th Street North and Giddens Avenue.

Witnesses saw the suspect getting out of his car and taking a child out of the back seat before running on foot and barricading himself in his home.

Officers tried to make contact with Conner, but he didn’t cooperate. The Tactical Response Team and Hostage Negotiators responded to the scene and hostage negotiators convinced him to come out of the house peacefully after approximately an hour and a half stand off.

He walked out of his house with the child at 3:30 p.m. There were no injuries.

Detectives are interviewing the suspect and additional charges are pending.

Conner was arrested for trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.