WHITEHALL, Mich. — Police searched for an assault suspect in Whitehall on Sunday, who was considered armed and dangerous. He is now in custody.
Shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday, the Whitehall Police Departmentalerted the public about an active scene on Johannah Street, where 44-year-old Benjamin Zike was supposed to be loose.
According to a recent press release, a woman told police she fled her house after her son, who had a weapon, made a threat to her.
She was not injured.
Whitehall police officers and Muskegon County deputies both responded to the house on Johannah Street, where Zike was presumed to be. They surrounded the home and called for his surrender over a loudspeaker.
Authorities also issued a search warrant for the house and an arrest warrant.
Because of Zike's history, and because of the nature of the reported incident, police say they called in the Muskegon County Emergency Response Team as well.
Just after 4:00 on Sunday, police made entry into the house, but the suspect was nowhere to be found.
Around 4:20, police said he was still at large and called in drones to assist in the search.
After a citizen phoned police, saying the suspect was at a Dalton gas station, Zike was taken into custody by 5:30.
Police say he was arrested in Dalton Township, approximately ten miles away from the original search site.
A Muskegon County Sheriff's deputy intercepted the suspect, arresting him on a warrant, and turned him over to the Whitehall Police Department.
Zike is now lodged in the Muskegon County jail on charges of Felonious Assault, as well as two other outstanding warrants.
Whitehall Police are being assisted by the Muskegon County Emergency Response Team, the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department, the Michigan State Police, the Montague Police Department and the Oceana County K9 Unit.
This is a developing story. FOX17 will update you when information is readily available.
