A seven-hour standoff on Spartanburg’s Saxon Avenue ended early Saturday when a police K-9 tracked a barricaded suspect to a crawl space beneath a residential home, bringing a tense overnight incident to a close with two arrests.
The Spartanburg Police Department said the call came in at approximately 7:41 p.m. Friday, dispatching an officer to the 700 block of Saxon Avenue. The homeowner had arrived to board up the property, which had been broken into multiple times, and called police after he suspected people were inside without his permission.
When an officer approached to investigate, someone inside opened the front door, spotted the officer, and immediately shut it. A short time later that same individual attempted to slip out through a side door, saw officers stationed there, and retreated back inside, barricading himself in the home.
Additional Spartanburg Police units responded, and an armored tactical vehicle was deployed to the block. Shortly after 9 p.m., a woman identified as Jennifer Smith walked out and was arrested without incident. Smith told officers a second person, Dejervu Rogers, was still inside and refusing to surrender.
For several hours, officers maintained positions around the perimeter and used a public-address system to order Rogers to surrender. When repeated commands went unanswered, a tactical team deployed a chemical irritant inside the home.
After approximately seven hours from the start of the incident, a police K-9 tracked Rogers to a crawl space underneath the structure. He was taken into custody at that location.
Rogers faces charges of burglary and resisting arrest. Smith has been charged with burglary. Both were transported to the Spartanburg County Detention Center following their arrests.
No injuries to officers or bystanders were reported. Spartanburg PD’s deployment of a tactical team, chemical irritant, and K-9 unit over seven hours reflected standard protocols for barricade incidents.
The Saxon Avenue block remained cordoned off through the overnight hours while police held the perimeter. Investigators have not disclosed additional details about Rogers’ connection to the property.
