Man Barricades Self In Apartment With Children Inside

A 12-hour barricade situation on the city's north side ended peacefully on Saturday afternoon.

According to the Columbus Division of Police, Michael Rodenberger forced his way into a Covington Drive apartment around 4:30 a.m. and held four children hostage. A woman then jumped out of a window of the apartment. Witnesses told 10TV's Tanisha Mallett gunfire erupted shortly afterward.

"There were shots, and one had entered the back half of the house and went all the way through three walls," neighbor Jennifer Jefferis said.

Jefferis said the bullets missed her son by one foot. She said police surrounded the apartment building a short time later and evacuated her from her home. Another neighbor said an officer told her to lay low until she could be led out of the building.

"He suggested that I not make any noise, make sure all of the lights were turned off and stay on the sofa so that if anything occurred, I would at least be low," Elizabeth Washington said.

Police said Rodenberger, 39, released two of the children after holding authorities at bay for about five hours. A 2-year-old and a 12-year-old remained in the apartment with him. Rodenberger released the other two children around 2:30 p.m. He then barricaded himself in the apartment and asked to speak with his lawyer, Mallett reported.

Attorney Chris Heckert described Rodenberger as anxious before he turned himself in to police peacefully around 4:15 p.m.

"It is an emotional time for someone. So I think the emotions are definitely high and the good news is that he is out," Heckert said.

Investigators said it was unclear why Rodenberger forced his way into the home. However, court records show there was civil protection order filed against him ordering him to stay away from the woman and one of the children who reside in the apartment.

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