UPDATE: The man police say led them to an hours long standoff at a home Saturday, September 28 is now in custody.
According to jail records, deputies arrested Joshua Hardin on Sunday, September 30.
Hardin is accused of going to his ex-wife's home on Nelson Road and beating her before barricading himself inside the home.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Lake Charles Police are searching for a man accused of breaking into his ex-wife's home, beating her with a bat and then barricading himself inside.
Joshua Harding. 34. is wanted for false imprisonment, unauthorized entry, aggravated battery and violation of a protective order. Anyone who knows where he is is asked to call the Lake Charles Police Department. The lead investigator is Sgt. Kevin Hoover.
Police were called to a Nelson Road home Saturday afternoon after someone saw two crying children running away from the house.
When police arrived, they saw a man and a woman in the doorway of the home. The woman ran toward the officers, and the man slammed the door to keep the officers out of the home, a spokesperson said.
Officers learned that Harding had separated from the victim about two years ago, and their divorce recently was finalized. That day, Harding allegedly broke into her house and hid there until she and her children came home. Then he allegedly attacked the victim with a bat. Her children were able to run out of the home, but the victim couldn't get away until the officers arrived, the spokesperson said.
Lake Charles Police S.W.A.T. Team was called to get the suspect out of the home. After several hours The S.WA.T. Team made entry into the residence, but Harding wasn't there.
LCPD is now asking for the public's help in locating Harding. If you know where he is, call 337-491-1311.
