Man Taken Into Custody After Barricading Himself Inside Home

TAMPA, FL —Following hours of negotiation, Tampa police have taken a man into custody after he threatened the residents and then barricaded himself inside a home in Tampa.

At 12:40 a.m. Monday, police were called to the 3300 block of West Price Avenue after 31-year-old Paul Ezzell barricaded himself inside the home with a taser, BB gun and gasoline after becoming upset regarding an argument about a dog.

Ezzell had been living in the home with the permission of the owner for the past few months. However, the owner asked him to leave for causing disturbances.

After a brief verbal argument with the owner, Ezzell threw an object through the front window of the home and broke the window panel. Flying glass struck one of the residents in the face, causing minor injuries.

Ezzell then entered the home and began spraying three residents with mace before leaving the home. He broke the windshield and rear passenger-side window of an SUV owned by one of the residents with a baseball bat and slashed the tires of the SUV.

After damaging the SUV, Ezzell began shooting a BB gun and pouring gasoline inside and outside the home before police arrived.

The residents fled the home, leaving Ezzell alone inside. Police attempted to negotiate with Ezzell, urging him to leave the home peacefully. After hours of negotiation, a chemical irritant was discharged into the home at 6:45 a.m. and officers entered and took Ezzell into custody.

He has been charged with two counts of battery, throwing a deadly missile into an occupied residence, arson and several other charges.