Submitted by the LCSO
On Saturday, November 10, 2012, at 5:14am, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call about shots fired. The incident occurred at 125 Ichabod Avenue, Lehigh Acres, Florida. Deputies from the Bravo District responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with Joseph Paul, age 30, who was inside the residence. Paul would not open the door to speak with deputies and, while standing at the front window, threatened to hurt anyone who attempted to come inside. Meanwhile, a second call was received from another occupant inside the home, the sister of the man at the window. She told the operator she had been awakened by her brother and told deputies were at the home. She then attempted to leave through the front door, but he prevented her from leaving and threatened to kill her if she tried to leave. She returned to her bedroom, locked the door and phoned the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies on scene were able to coordinate her escape through the bedroom window. It was revealed the aunt of the brother and sister was still inside the home. Her physical condition would limit her ability to leave. The Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit (SWAT team) and Hostage Negotiators Unit were mobilized and arrived to continue efforts to get the suspect and his aunt out of the home safely. Negotiators were able to successfully convince the suspect to open the door and help the aunt to leave in her wheel chair. The suspect was then taken into custody without further incident. A firearm with an empty magazine was located inside the residence and turned into evidence for safekeeping.
Due to the nature of the incident, detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation. As a result, Joseph Paul has been charged with one count of kidnapping/false imprisonment and booked into the Lee County Jail.