The Levelland Police Department executed an arrest warrant on Tuesday afternoon following a brief standoff that resulted in the arrest of three individuals an no serious injuries reported.
Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia explained that LPD investigators received information that Joshua Lynn Burnett was possibly located at a residence within the 500 block of 8th Street. In an attempt to locate Burnett, whom has a warrant involving a case of Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, investigators made contact with Chrisanta Ann Castro and Patricia Ann Zapata.
The two individuals reported that Burnett was not in the residence or on the property at the time. However, Zapata and Castro granted the LPD the right to search the property.
Upon entering the house, officers noted a step stool near an entrance to the attic. They then verbally requested for Burnett to leave the attic and come out peacefully. Burnett refused and responded that he had a knife and would hurt himself and others if officers entered the attic.
Around 4 p.m. additional officers with the LPD, Hockley County Sheriff’s deputies, Levelland Fire personnel, Levelland EMS units and Levelland-Hockley County Emergency were on scene securing the area.
Utilizing non-lethal methods, officers eventually extracted Burnett from the attic and reported that he did have a knife in his possession as well as a suspected self inflicted knife wound.
The LPD escorted a Levelland EMS unit to Covenant Hospital where Burnett was treated before being released back to the arresting officers.
Burnett has been booked into the Hockley County Jail on one charge of Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, Terroristic Threat Against a Peace Officer and Resisting Arrest or Transport. He is currently held on $65,000 bond pending trial.
Both Castro and Zapata have also been booked into the Hockley County Jail for Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution of a known felon. Both are held on $7,500 bond each pending trial.