Armstrong County man arrested after standoff was wanted in Butler County
A man wanted in Butler County for alleged armed robbery is in now custody after police in Armstrong County say he threatened a shootout with them, police said Friday, Jan. 24.
Darrin Anthony Hutchens, 54, of McGrann, was charged with felony terroristic threats and misdemeanor false identification, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and obstruction related to a standoff with police in an Armstrong County residence.
Police said they learned Hutchens had an armed robbery warrant in Butler County and misdemeanor warrants from Butler Township police, when approaching Hutchens about using a false identity.
Police arrived at a residence on Ludwig Street in Manor Township around 5:02 p.m. Thursday to follow up on information that Hutchens had been using a false identity since 2021.
Hutchens had been going by Daniel Michael Malone, which upon a nationwide search combining the name, Hutchens’ birthdate and a partial social security number yielded no records.
Officers said they made contact with a 41-year-old female who told them she and Dan were separated, and he hadn’t been in the house for about a week. A juvenile in the house then told police Hutchens was in the residence, according to the affidavit.
Police said the woman then admitted Hutchens was upstairs in the residence, and police found him at the top of the stairs with his hands concealed, according to the affidavit. The female then told police there was a .38-caliber handgun in her nightstand.
Police said Hutchens revealed his identity and said attempting to detain him would result in a “shootout.” Police then evacuated the woman and an 8-year-old juvenile from the residence.
Manor Township police said after evacuating the home, a Manor Township officer trained in hostage negotiations obtained Hutchens identity, and a state police negotiator encouraged Hutchens to surrender peacefully.
Police said Hutchens’ fake name Malone came up in a Jan. 17 incident involving disorderly juveniles, and Hutchens previously used the fake name when police responded to the residence Sept. 20.
Hutchens’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 5 before District Judge Kenneth Bussard. He is being held in Armstrong County Prison.
