Standoff at Newton home Sunday ends in arrest of 39-year-old man

A standoff between local law enforcement and a 39-year-old man who broke in to a Newton home Sunday morning ended peacefully after the individual voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody.

According to a press release from the Newton Police Department, a female resident of the home entered it to find Jesse Lundin, of Newton, inside and armed with what she believed at the time to be a firearm.

The woman knew Lundin, but he was not authorized to be in the home. Police say Lundin made concerning statements, leading to the woman leaving her home and calling the police around 7:44 a.m. Lundin remained inside.

Criminal complaints obtained by Newton News show the victim had observed Lundin’s vehicle parked a block away from her house. When she arrived to her home, the door was still locked. She found Lundin in the dining room.

Lundin said he wanted to talk. The victim saw Lundin with a black object that she believed to be a long gun. He held it at chest level. The victim was alarmed and walked back out the door. Lundin alluded that he was going to harm himself.

Officers established a perimeter around the residence and began negotiations with Lundin. Crisis negotiators and members of the Newton SWAT team and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with the standoff.

Approximately 90 minutes after the initial 911 call, Lundin voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody and charged with second-degree burglary (Class C felony) and second-degree harassment (serious misdemeanor).

After officers took Lundin into custody, they found a long black tub attached to a black plunger in the dining room. The victim believed these items were what Lundin used as a makeshift weapon to give the perception of a rifle.

The victim requested a no-contact order.

Prior to his arrest, law enforcement alerted individuals via text of police activity near the 400 block of West Fifth Street South. Residents in the area were encouraged to stay inside and lock their doors.