CARROLLTON, Va. — An Isle of Wight County man wanted on numerous charges was taken into custody after a several-hour standoff at a York County home, investigators said.
According to the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office, 39-year-old Joseph Harrington was wanted following a call on Sunday for domestic assault with a weapon and abduction at an address on St. Catherine Drive in Carrollton.
Captain Tommy Potter with Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office said a woman called 911 telling dispatchers Harrington had held her against her will for upwards of 10 hours.
"She was repeatedly assaulted by her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Mr. Harrington," said Potter. "At some point during that night, she was able to distract him and to grab one of her children and get out of the house."
However, Potter said the suspect took the woman's one-week-old baby with him when he fled from the house.
It was later learned that Harrington was at a home on Court Road in Yorktown. The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office said Harrington refused to surrender. After several hours of failed negotiations, investigators said members of the York-Poquoson Emergency Response Team entered the home and found Harrington hiding in a closet.
"This individual, our office has dealt with him in the past. So we are very familiar with Mr. Harrington," said Potter. "Our investigators worked side-by-side with York-Poquoson's team to make sure we got this dangerous individual off our streets."
Harrington was taken into custody. He faces multiple weapons charges as well as charges of domestic assault, abduction, strangulation, child abuse, obstruction from calling law enforcement, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The one-week-old baby and other child are safe with their mother. Potter said help and resources for those going through domestic violence situations are truly just one phone call away. If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can reach out to Samaritan House's hotline at 757-430-2120.
Harrington is currently held at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.