SIDNEY — A man was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday inside a Sidney-area residence hours after he reportedly tied up a former girlfriend, assaulted and held her against her will.
Officers of the Sidney Police Department received a call about 1 p.m. Wednesday from the 29-year-old female victim, and were dispatched to a residence at 670 Fair Road, Sidney.
The victim reported to police that she returned home on a lunch break from work, and that a former boyfriend, Wendell Johnson had snuck into her residence and was hiding behind a front entrance door.
The suspect, Wendell Johnson, 48, of Richmond, Ind. reportedly used flex ties to tie up the victim and physically assaulted her for over an hour until she finally convinced him to untie her, and let her go. Once she escaped, the female victim immediately call 911.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement immediately surrounded the residence, and tactical officers were deployed from Sidney and Piqua police departments.
Hostage negotiators attempted to communicate with Johnson, but were not successful.
After several hours officers were able to breech the kitchen door of the residence by utilizing a search robot from the Allen County Bomb Squad. This search robot was equipped with a camera and shortly after the robot entered the residence the body of Johnson was discovered.
Once inside, law enforcement identified the deceased body as Johnson, and believe the cause of death to be self-inflicted gunshot from an “AR-15 type rifle.”
Additionally, officers located at the scene a large number of flex ties, a stun gun, extra AR15 magazines, and knives.
Investigators found Johnson’s silver-colored Toyota Camry parked a few blocks away on Cherry Street near Foraker Street. It is believed that Johnson parked his car at the Cherry Street location to conceal his presence in the area from the victim.
Officers continue their investigation.