MURFREESBORO, TN - WGNS has more news on an armed man who reportedly barricaded himself in a home in the area of Fortress Boulevard last week. 34-Year-old Michael Thibodeau refused to exit the townhome on Sitting Bull Crossing for just under 4-hours. Murfreesboro Police Public Information Officer Larry Flowers explained why authorities remained quiet about the situation, in the beginning... He went on to say that neighbors in the area of such an event, sometimes put officers' lives in danger by posting on social media videos of what they record on their home security cameras.

Flowers told WGNS the incident ended peacefully, thanks to the training of officers and the directions given by command staff... Thibodeau was a visitor in the home and was reportedly visiting a female resident who rented the residence. But, court records indicate at least two female victims were initially in the home, because two were named in the incident. Both escaped unharmed. Police also confirmed the initial call to dispatch suggested the suspect threatened one of the females with a gun but again, there were no known injuries to the victims at they were able to escape the residence. 

MPD Captain Clayton Williams told WGNS the suspect was initially hiding in the garage. In the continuing effort to avoid deadly force, police used rubber bullets on the man after the garage door was breached. Williams explains the effectiveness of the rubber bullets... From there, the man ran upstairs and police threw canisters of gas into the townhome, and that ultimately brought him down. Once Thibodeau was arrested, he was charged with Felony Vandalism, Felony Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon, and also faces a Misdemeanor Vandalism charge.
Captain Williams insinuated that medical issues may have led to the suspects actions... Thibodeau recently moved to Murfreesboro from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania for work.

The 34-year-old man remains in custody at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro. Thibodeau was due in court on Thursday, September 7th, but a continuance was granted on his case and he is next due in court for a hearing on Tuesday, September 12th. He will appear before the Honorable Lisa Eischeid. The suspect is being represented by a public defender.

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