GARSON TAYLOR

The chief of the Benwood Volunteer Fire Department was arrested Monday evening on charges including misdemeanor domestic battery following a 60-minute standoff with Benwood police.

Garson Paul Taylor, 32, of Benwood also was arrested on misdemeanor charges of fleeing in a vehicle and obstruction of an officer, according to Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell. Benwood Police officers were investigating an incident Monday evening, Longwell said, where Taylor’s wife was allegedly found with a bloody face and choke marks around her neck. During the investigation, Taylor allegedly drove past the scene and refused to stop when police ordered him.

Longwell said Taylor sent Benwood officers in pursuit of him for “a few laps” around the city before they were able to block him in. Then, Longwood said, Taylor and police went into an hour-long standoff with Taylor holding a gun to his head. After that hour, Longwood said an officer was able to open Taylor’s truck door and pull him out without injury.

“It was a bad situation, but it ended peacefully, thank God,” Longwell said.

When searching Taylor’s truck, Longwood said officers found “several AR rifles and about 800 rounds of ammunition.” Taylor also was wearing bulletproof body armor. He was taken to Northern Regional Jail.

Longwood said that, with Taylor’s arrest, both a mental hygiene order and domestic battery protection order were filed against him. The mental hygiene order requires him to be taken to a mental health facility for evaluation. The protection order forbids him to have contact with his wife or have access to any weapons.

Longwell said that, along with being the Benwood VFD chief, Taylor is a 12-year employee with the City of Benwood. Longwell said Taylor will be suspended without pay from his city job until the outcome of his legal issues.

Because the Benwood VFD is independent of the city, Longwell said it will be up to the fire department to determine Taylor’s future.