Date: 01/31/2025

Location: 800 Blk Cedar Ridge Ct

Time: 0936 hrs

Details/Summary:

An off-duty Fort Wayne Police Officer was alerted by family members that an unknown male was standing in their driveway. The officer’s personal family vehicle and a fully marked FWPD vehicle were parked in the driveway. The officer observed this male on the other side of his personal vehicle, so he went outside to investigate. As the officer approached his vehicle he heard rushing of air from a tire. The officer confronted this individual to which he was holding a large, fixed blade knife. The officer ordered the suspect to drop the knife, but he quickly entered a vehicle and left. The officer was able to get a description of the car and plate. The officer’s family called 9-1-1 to report this incident.

Officers started to search for this vehicle, which through investigative process were able to find the vehicle and its registered owner. The victim officer observed a photo of the vehicle owner and was able to confirm this was the person that was armed and damaged his property. Officers then went to the 800 block of Cedar Ridge Ct to speak with the suspect. Officers used loudspeakers to attempt to get the suspect to exit the house. Officers could see the suspect inside the house, however, with no response from the suspect. Officers from the Emergency Services Team (EST), Crisis Response Team (Negotiators), and the Air Support Unit (Drone) were requested to the scene. Shortly after 3pm the suspect was taken into custody with no injuries. See below for suspect information.

Suspect Arrested: Mitchell T. Skelton

Preliminary Charges: Intimidation (Level 6 felony), Criminal Confinement (Level 6 felony), Criminal Mischief (Class A Mis), Voyeurism (Class B Mis), and Domestic Battery (Class A Mis)

Sergeant John Nichter
Public Information Officer