The Newton County Sheriff's Office announces the arrest of a person wanted on several charges and another individual after a standoff last week.

The post below is from the Newton County Sheriff's Office: 

Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said his agency, along with Arkansas Probation and Parole, 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force, U.S. Marshals, Arkansas Department of Correction responded to a residence in the Lurton area to attempt to take a fugitive into custody. Law Enforcement had knowledge the fugitive, who had absconded from Probation and Parole and had a Newton County warrant, was in the area and was armed.

When law enforcement arrived at the location and called the residents out, Ryan Applegate, aged 38 barricaded himself into a bedroom, holding two children, ages 4 and 6 in the room with him. A standoff ensued for quite some time with Applegate refusing to negotiate with law enforcement. It was confirmed there were firearms in the room Applegate had retreated to.

An ambulance from North Arkansas Medical Center EMS was staged in the area. Harrison Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas State Police were contacted to activate their SWAT teams. Meanwhile, law enforcement at the house continued to try and contact Applegate. After extensive negotiations, Applegate first let the two children go, then surrendered himself prior to SWAT arriving.

When Applegate was taken into custody, three firearms were recovered, along with 10.5 grams of methamphetamine. Applegate was charged with two counts of Kidnapping, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, 2nd degree, three counts of Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (Felon), Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (more than 10 grams), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Failure to Appear, Resisting Arrest, a Probation and Parole White Warrant and Being a Habitual Offender.

Also arrested at the scene was Santana Criner, aged 24 of the residence. She was charged with Hindering the Apprehension of a Fugitive, a Class B Felony. Both will appear before a judge before bond is set.

Both children were unharmed and were turned over to family members.

Sheriff Wheeler said, "Mr. Applegate has been a real problem for years and made a bad mistake today when he took those kids hostage and endangered a lot of people over his stupid life choices. But, he eventually came to his senses, realized he was completely out of options and

finally made a good choice for a change. We are thankful for that as it could have gone very badly."

Wheeler went on to say, "today we witnessed some high-level work by some very professional Law Enforcement Officers from County, State and Federal agencies that brought a tense situation to a peaceful and safe end. I'm honored to get to work with people like these."