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'Violent Felon' Taken Into Custody After NH Standoff

HAMPTON, NH (CBS) – A "violent felon" was taken into custody after a standoff in Hampton, NH Thursday afternoon. Members of the SWAT team were outside a home on Fairfield Drive for more than four hours.

Police say 22-year-old Michael Ellis of Haverhill, Mass. was taken into custody. He was wanted for distribution of a Class D substance and on probation violation warrants for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and armed robbery.

SWAT Hampton
SWAT team members outside home on Fairfield Dr. in Hampton, NH (WBZ-TV)

Residents in the neighborhood were asked to shelter in place during the standoff. Officers used a robot to break a glass door and were seen entering the garage at one point during the incident.

"Several attempts were made to get him to come out to police to no avail," said Hampton Police Chief Rich Sawyer. "At which time we had no choice but to try to bring him out into custody due to the dangers that he posed to the community."

Michael Ellis
Michael Ellis arrested after standoff in Hampton, NH (Image from Hampton PD)

Police say Ellis was found unarmed and hiding in a crawl space in the home. No police officers were injured during the incident. Ellis suffered minor injuries.

Hampton SWAT
Robot shatters front door of Hampton, NH home during police standoff (WBZ-TV)

The suspect's friend said he had been staying at the home for a couple days.

"I picked him up in Haverhill," the friend told WBZ. "Brought him up here. We were going to hang out for a few days, spend time at the beach. It's been nice out. I guess things kind of got out of control."

Ellis will be arraigned in New Hampshire on Friday morning.

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