DeLand, FL - A man in DeLand caused a three-hour police standoff on Monday night after he attacked his own father and prevented him from calling 911.
Deputies responded to a disturbance in DeLand at about 5:56 PM on Monday after all call that 55-year-old Paul Smith was getting into an argument with his father and telling the father multiple times that he was going to get a gun, according to police records. A witness observed Smith's father asking his son to leave the residence, but the son refused.
When Smith's father said he was going to call 911, that's when Smith attacked his father and took the phone. The witness told police that Smith "exited the residence and stated that he was going to kill everyone in the residence," according to police. The same witness said that Smith had a history of drug abuse and that he continually harasses the father for money.
When Smith returned, he went into a guest bedroom and closed the door. Deputies opened the door and attempted to make contact with Smith. That's when one of the officers noticed he was carrying a black revolver that he had concealed under his right arm. Officers attempted to tase Smith, but that had no effect, so they took a defensive position in the kitchen. They were able to coax him into relinquishing the gun but still could not coax him out of the room.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood arrived on scene a short time later and convinced Smith to leave his room. Deputies continued to struggle with Smith, and he continued to resist. Smith was stunned with the taser again, and he was able to be taken into custody after a total of about three hours of struggling.
(Smith's mugshot courtesy Volusia County jail)
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