Suspect in custody after standoff with Pickens County deputies

PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. - At approximately 1 pm Saturday, deputies responded to an assault call in the area of Old Talking Rock Road and Twin Mountain Lakes Road in Talking Rock, Georgia.

Deputies responded to a report of assaults occurring at the residence. The report was called in by a third party that heard the screaming.

Once at the home, deputies announced who they were and a male told them he was armed and did not want them there. Deputies then pulled back and spoke with him from a distance until he fired a weapon from inside the home. Over the course of their original meeting with him, he fired a total of two rounds from a weapon while yelling at deputies.

Deputies then pulled back from the residence and began calling for assistance and the Pickens Sheriff's Office called for the mutual aid of the Cherokee County SWAT team.

Following 7 hours of negotiations, Mr. Tony Pettigrew and Mrs. Robin McDaniel Pettigrew fled the back door of their residence after setting a fire in the home. After the fled the back door, SWAT team members were able to apprehend both individuals without any further incident or injuries.

Both suspects were taken into custody after negotiators learned during their ongoing communication with both individuals that's she was not a hostage in the situation but actively involved.

Due to their admitted use of a combination of drugs during the day, both individuals were taken to be evaluated at a local hospital.

Charges are currently pending for this incident but both individuals had outstanding warrants.