Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Willie Lee Davis this morning after he barricaded himself inside a house for about four hours with three other people near Ketchum and Airways in Memphis.

The ordeal began about 3 o’clock this morning when Sheriff’s Deputies in the Fugitive Bureau received a tip that Davis was at the house. Davis had been sought by Fugitive Deputies and Memphis Police on two counts of Aggravated Robbery, one count of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping and Escape from Felony Incarceration.

On January 14, 2007, two employees of a Memphis muffler shop at 1637 Getwell Road told Memphis Police Officers they were robbed by Davis who was armed with a gun. Davis allegedly kidnapped one of the employees and forced him to drive to two ATM machines and withdraw money.

Both victims later overpowered Davis and held him until Memphis Police Officers arrived. Davis was taken to the Regional Medical Center for minor injuries. While at the hospital, however, Davis managed to break free from his handcuffs and escape.

When Fugitive Deputies arrived at 2475 Dwight this morning to arrest Davis, no one would answer the door.

After repeated attempts to talk to Davis, Deputies then had an informant call a woman inside the house. That woman said Davis was there with her and two others, a teenaged girl and another man.

The lady inside the house said Davis refused to open the door and also had threatened her and the others if they tried to leave the house.

Sheriff’s S.W.A.T. and Hostage Negotiators then joined Fugitive Bureau Deputies at the house.

After about four hours, Davis agreed to surrender. He and the three others walked out of the house unharmed.

Davis was arrested on the outstanding charges against him and taken to the Shelby County Jail. Davis also faces other charges regarding the hostage standoff.

Members of the Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of F.B.I. Agents, Sheriff’s Deputies and Memphis Police Officers, are interviewing all of those who were inside the house. They are also talking to another lady who allowed Davis inside the house yesterday afternoon. That lady was not at the house during the standoff with Deputies.

The investigation is continuing about Davis’ association with the others in the house, especially the lady who allowed him to stay there.