7 children escape from Indiana home during SWAT standoff with armed suspect

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WXIN) -- Seven children escaped from a Columbus home during a SWAT standoff with an armed man early Monday morning.

Officers with the Columbus Police Department responded to a home around 5 a.m. in the 1000 block of Iowa Street. Residents told police a man with a knife broke into the home, and seven children were inside.

Four of the children successfully escaped on their own, but three children remained inside with the intruder, identified as 35-year-old Tyrrice L. Degraffenreid. He claimed to be the father of two of the young children still inside the home.

Officers confirmed a protective order was in place prohibiting Degraffenreid from being at the residence.

SWAT Team officers entered the home, and they escorted the remaining three children out to safety.

Officers later located Degraffenreid hiding in a bedroom inside the home. He was taken into custody with the assistance of a CPD K-9.

Degraffenreid faces the following preliminary charges: residential entry and violation of a protective order (invasion of privacy).