EDWARDSBURG — A Niles woman said she was “scared to death” for her friend involved in a standoff Monday on Redfield Road.
As of press time Monday night, police were trying to bring about a peaceful resolution to a standoff with an armed man, Mike Long, who barricaded himself in his ex-wife’s home southeast of Edwardsburg this morning.
Joanie Peterson befriended Long a couple months ago.
“We started talking and we’ve been together ever since,” Peterson said via phone from the barricaded area.
Peterson said she is not dating Long.
Peterson said Long has been in a dispute with his ex-wife over their daughter. Peterson received a text message from Long at 5:30 a.m. Monday that “basically said goodbye.”
Police were in discussions with Long, who was armed with a gun and believed to be alone.
Long’s ex-wife left the house earlier Monday.
“He would never, ever hurt her,” Peterson believes.
“I consider him a very dear friend. I don’t want this written up as another crazy man in Edwardsburg with a gun,” she said. “I’m scared to death. I want him to come out alive. I want him to be OK. He’s distraught and he is broken.”
At around 2:30 p.m., police detained a man claiming to be a friend of Long’s. He approached police near the intersection of Martin and Redfield saying he was “Mikey’s” friend and could help get him out. Police asked the man to stay calm and eventually restrained him.
Officers from the Michigan State Police, Cass County Sheriff’s Department and Ontwa-Edwardsburg Police were on the scene. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department would also provide assistance as needed.