Regional SWAT Team members arrested a local man early this morning following an investigation into a disturbance at a Winfield residence.
49-year-old Jeffrey D. Milner, a previously convicted felon, remained in the Cowley County Jail Friday afternoon. Booking charges include criminal threat, criminal restraint, aggravated battery and battery.
Just before midnight Thursday, Winfield police were dispatched to the 500 block of E. 17th in regard to a disturbance. They arrived to find two men who had been the victims of battery. Milner was identified as a suspect in the investigation.
Police also spoke with a woman who told them Milner threatened her with “great bodily harm,” according to a media statement about the incident released by the Winfield Police Dept. Officers were informed that Milner was still inside the residence and had made statements about being in possession of a firearm.
Officers initially approached the residence to attempt and contact Milner through the front door – which had been left open. While on approach, a series of loud noises could be heard coming from the area behind the residence. Initially it was believed that these sounds were possible gunshots, and this was broadcast via radio traffic, police said.
It was soon discovered that a vehicle unrelated to the incident which was approximately one block south had possibly thrown some type of fireworks outside of the vehicle. This vehicle and its occupant, or occupants, were never identified.
Officers made multiple attempts to contact Milner but were unsuccessful.
Southern Kansas SWAT was called to the scene. Milner was eventually found inside the residence and taken into custody by team members. He was taken to the hospital in Winfield for care and booked into jail just before 5 a.m. Friday.
The Winfield Police Department was assisted by the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, The Kansas Highway Patrol, the Southern Kansas SWAT team and Winfield Fire and EMS.
Milner has multiple felony convictions dating to 1998 and 2007. He has served time in prison with the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.
