Police: Suspect In Custody After 11-Hour Standoff, Burned Innocent Couple’s Home

A burglary suspect burned down the home of a Broken Arrow couple after shooting at police officers, during an 11-hour standoff. Police said they finally arrested Hiest Hart after he ran out of the burning home.

Thursday, December 3rd 2020, 5:16 pm

By: Reagan Ledbetter

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. -

The innocent couple’s home is now ashes, all because a random intruder with a gun got into their home and refused to come out for hours. A GoFundMe page said the home belongs to a Bixby 9th Grade teacher.

"It's absolutely terrifying. I couldn't imagine what that homeowner went through. I know if it was me, I would have run away,” said neighbor Patrick Harman.

Officers spent nine hours using a loudspeaker to talk to Hart and try to get him to surrender, but he refused and set the house on fire.

"He had been all over the house. He had barricaded the living room, the front door, and had hid in the attic at one point,” said Officer Chris Walker with Broken Arrow Police.

The Special Operations Team specializes in dealing with armed suspects and tried several tactics to get Hart out of the house. When the officers went toward the house in an armored truck, they said Hart shot at them.

"After he shot at the special operations team officers, they were able to have a vantage point where they were able to see the flames being made by a butane torch, in the holes they had punched in the walls,” said Walker.

Officers said after the house was burning, Hart came outside and was arrested.

"This is a highly volatile situation, with a lot of components that could have gone bad, and no one was seriously injured in it. We are thankful for that,” said Walker.

"Absolutely blown away. It was a great fast response by the Broken Arrow Police Department. It makes me feel secure here,” said Harman.

Hart has been booked into the Wagoner County jail for burglary, arson and shooting with intent to kill.

Broken Arrow Police said this is the second time this year a suspect has shot at officers.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family who owns the home.