Man Arrested after Entering a Home and Threatening Resident with a Handgun

An Evansville man who threatened a friend with a handgun is in custody after a standoff at his northern Vanderburgh County home.

On Friday, March 06, 2020 at 2:14 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Sharon Place off Whetstone Road upon report of a subject with a gun. The 911 caller reported that Mr. Ralph Chandley had entered the home without permission and was threatening one of the residents with a handgun.

Chandley left the scene prior to sheriff’s deputies arriving. The residents explained that Chandley was a family friend, but arrived at their residence intoxicated and angrily accused one of the residents of theft while pointing a handgun at him.

Sheriff’s deputies drove to Chandley’s residence on Cemetery Road south of E. Baseline Road where they located his vehicle in the driveway. Chandley refused to exit his residence and a Sheriff’s Office crisis negotiator was called to the scene. Mr. Chandley repeatedly told a negotiator that he would not peacefully surrender to law enforcement and made other suicidal statements. At one point Chandley told deputies he had an AK-47 rifle and that he would engage in shootout. 

After nearly two hours, Chandley agreed to exit his residence and surrendered without incident. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and numerous firearms were seized.

Chandley was later booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail and will make an initial court appearance on Monday.

ARRESTED:

Ralph Dixon Chandley II (pictured above in 2011), 56, of Evansville. Burglary while Armed with Deadly Weapon as a Level 2 Felony, Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon as a Level 5 Felony, Pointing a Loaded Firearm as a Level 6 Felony

Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.