Dwight Amon Willett, 52, a transient wanted in a suspected domestic violence case was captured by Redlands Police after a 3-hour manhunt
REDLANDS >> A search for a reportedly armed man prompted a school and a local business to lock their doors during a three-hour manhunt Monday morning.
Police say the man, identified as Dwight Amon Willett, 52, a transient, was wanted for suspicion of domestic violence and robbery.
According to police, Willett is accused of forcefully taking the cellphone of a woman he is involved with romantically.
After a nearly three-hour manhunt, police took Willett into custody shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday on the Iowa Street side of the Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse at 1725 W. Redlands Blvd.
Police said one school placed itself on lockdown along with a local business.
“Barbara Phelps Community Day School was on lockdown,” police spokesman Carl Baker said. “We only advise schools of police activity and it’s their responsibility to initiate a lockdown.”
It was unclear how long the school was locked down.
Lori Rhodes, superintendent for the Redlands Unified School District, said the three schools nearest to the police activity — Orangewood High School and Mission and Kimberly elementary schools — did not initiate lockdown procedures but were on “safe and secure” mode to reduce student and staff movement outside school buildings.
Baker said one business, a chiropractic clinic, locked its doors during the manhunt.
Police say Willett allegedly threatened to shoot officers and may have been armed with a handgun, but it was not immediately known whether a weapon had been recovered.