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Suspect in custody after hourslong standoff with police on I-71 near downtown Columbus

One officer was injured. Fuqua said they were treated at the scene and will be OK.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A suspect is in custody after an hourslong standoff with Columbus police on Interstate 71 near the Interstate 70 ramp on Saturday.

According to the Columbus Division of Police, a crash was reported around 9:15 a.m. on I-70 westbound, over state Route 315 near downtown.

Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua said the driver of a work truck with a snow plow attached to the front refused to get out of the vehicle following the crash and began throwing construction tools at officers when they arrived.

Fuqua later identified the driver as 41-year-old Michael Oswalt II.

Credit: Columbus Division of Police

One officer was injured. Fuqua said they were treated at the scene and will be OK.

Traffic was redirected from the area and police negotiators were called to the scene to talk to Oswalt.

Around 1:45 p.m., Fuqua said Oswalt was taken into custody. He has been charged with assault on a police officer. Additional charges may be added later.

Two people involved in the initial crash were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said.

The freeway was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

Credit: WBNS-10TV

Oswalt appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court on Monday and was given a $10,000 bond. 

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