Samurai Sword-Wielding Man Barricades Himself In Clearwater Home

Clearwater Police have arrested a man who barricaded himself in a home while brandishing a pair of samurai swords during a two-hour standoff.

Authorities arrived at the home in the 1700 block of Ragland Avenue on a trespassing call, where they found 31-year-old Joel Wayne Shack toting the two swords, "pointing one to his chest as if to harm himself," police spokesperson Rob Shaw said.

Shack then barricaded himself in the residence for the next two hours, police said. During that time they were able to safely remove a woman who had called them.

Police learned during the standoff that Shack had two active felony warrants for battery and failure to pay child support, as well "a lengthy and violent criminal history," Shaw said.

When the standoff had ended, police seized five samurai swords and one switchblade knife from the scene.

Shack, of the 1400 block of North Garden Avenue, was first taken to Morton Plant Hospital after complaining of chest pains. He was then transported to the Pinellas County Jail, where he was being held Thursday morning.