CHRISTIANSBURG – Joseph Nathan Penn, 34, of Christiansburg, has been arrested following a standoff with Christiansburg Police and the U.S. Marshall’s office, who were trying to serve him with an arrest warrant.
“On Friday Sept. 1, 2023 at approximately 2:20 p.m., Christiansburg Police received a call from the U.S. Marshall’s Task Force after an individual barricaded himself in a residence,” the Town of Christiansburg announced. “The U.S. Marshall’s Task Force was attempting to serve an arrest warrant to [Penn] when Penn immediately locked himself inside a residence on the 100 block of Hunter’s Ridge Rd.”
“Law enforcement attempted to negotiate with Penn for more than two hours but he refused to surrender and broke off communication with law enforcement,” the announcement continued. “At approximately 4:52 p.m. officers administered a chemical irritant. Penn came out of his barricaded position three minutes later and was immediately taken into custody. There were no injuries to Penn or officers.”
“The original arrest warrant was issued for capias that required Penn to return to Court to re-instate a previously suspended sentence on a previously adjudicated felony. Additional charges may be forthcoming.”
News Messenger staff report
