UPDATE 11:55 AM: The Arkansas State Police have released a statement regarding the standoff that occurred Monday night in Ouachita County. The following information has been provided in that report:
A tense, 12-hour standoff involving multiple law enforcement agencies ended Monday evening in Stephens, after a barricaded gunman was taken into custody without serious injury to officers or the suspect.
According to the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), the incident began around 3:30 p.m. on County Road 105, when deputies responded to a report of a disturbance involving Daniel Owens, 47, who had allegedly threatened a family member with a firearm and then barricaded himself inside a residence.
Due to the severity of the situation, OCSO requested support from the El Dorado Police Department (EPD) SWAT team, which responded and deployed a drone for surveillance. During the operation, Owens fired at the drone, escalating the threat level.
As Owens continued to refuse law enforcement commands, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) SWAT team was called in around 6:30 p.m. The standoff intensified as Owens reportedly fired multiple rounds at ASP personnel and struck a specialized armored vehicle known as a Bearcat.
Negotiation efforts were made throughout the evening, including the deployment of a robotic device to initiate communication. Despite these attempts, Owens remained uncooperative and continued to fire at officers, prompting a return of fire by law enforcement.
Ultimately, ASP SWAT team members breached the residence and successfully took Owens into custody. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and determined not to have sustained any gunshot wounds. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
No officers were injured during the operation.
Upon his release from the hospital, Owens will be booked into the Ouachita County Detention Center. He is expected to face charges including Aggravated Assault and Attempted Capital Murder.
The incident remains under investigation by state and local authorities.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A tense standoff in Ouachita County ended with one man in custody and facing multiple charges after authorities say he threatened family members with a firearm at a residence near Buena Vista.
According to the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched to 508 Ouachita 105 on the morning of August 4, 2025, following reports of a man armed with a gun and threatening relatives. A woman who had fled the home informed deputies that her son, Daniel Owens, was inside the residence armed with a long rifle and had made threats. She also shared that Owens suffers from mental health issues and is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic.
Deputies secured the perimeter of the property and called in specialized units from the El Dorado Police Department SWAT team and the Arkansas State Police SWAT team for assistance.
Once on scene, Arkansas State Police took the lead in the response. During the operation, shots were fired at the state police SWAT team. In response, officers took action to neutralize the threat inside the home. Owens was ultimately subdued with the help of a police K-9 and sustained dog bite injuries during the incident.
He was transported to the Ouachita County Medical Center for treatment before being taken into custody. Owens now faces charges of Aggravated Assault and is being held at the Ouachita County Detention Center.
No officers or other individuals were injured during the operation.
The case remains under investigation by the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department.
