Police, SWAT Team Come Up Empty In Attempt To Arrest Man Accused Of Assaulting His Mother

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit police are searching for an armed man wanted in an assault on his mother on the city's west side.

Police with a SWAT team were in place for over five hours Monday morning believing Darnell Stevenson was holed up in a home in the 15500 block of Freeman.

Stevenson, 26, allegedly was upset because his mother had a male friend over, according to police.

"They began arguing, and that argument did turn into a physical altercation where the son did strangle and strike his mother in the face," Deputy Chief Elvin Barren said.

The 47-year-old mother and the friend were able to get out of the home, leaving Stevenson inside.

The mother told police that Stevenson had barricaded himself in a bedroom and was armed with a 9 mm handgun.

"And he made a statement, that the mother relayed to us, that if you call the police this is not going to end pleasantly," Barren said.

Officers surrounded and secured the house, but they were not able to make contact with the suspect, who suffers from depression, according to his mother.

However, Barren said, police eventually determined that Stevenson was not inside the home, having in fact fled the area before police arrived.

Stevenson remained at large Monday afternoon. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who has information about Stevenson's whereabouts is asked to call Detroit police at 313-267-4600 or dial 911.