A fugitive wanted on rape charges was taken into custody in Bradley County on Monday.
According to a press release from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Ayodeji Olamide Ajayi surrendered to authorities after a tense standoff. It was later discovered that the suspect employed a toy handgun in his efforts to hold off law enforcement.
The press release states that on Monday the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Warrants Unit conducted a manhunt for a wanted suspect in an Aggravated Rape case. HCSO Criminal Warrants detectives, in a collaborative effort with Bradley County Sheriff’s Office investigators, were able to locate the suspect at an address in Bradley County.
The 39-year-old Ajayi refused to surrender to law enforcement. HCSO detectives made contact with the suspect via phone and advised him to surrender. The suspect made statements that he would not surrender, that he had a gun, and that he was going to act in a way that would force law enforcement to kill him.
A tense and lengthy standoff ensued; however, HCSO detectives were able to maintain contact with Ajayi and persuaded him to peacefully surrender. Ajayi was found to be in possession of a toy BB pistol that closely resembled a real firearm.
He was then taken into custody and transported to the Hamilton County Jail without further incident. He is being charged with four counts of Aggravated Rape, Rape, Aggravated Burglary, Sexual Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, and Domestic Assault.