Man still wanted in connection to Tuesday standoff in Lyle
Published 10:10 am Wednesday, November 20, 2019
- Officers begin clearing the scene at a Lyle residence Tuesday night where authorities were involved in a standoff that lasted the afternoon into the early evening. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The name and circumstances at the heart of a Tuesday standoff in Lyle, that stretched through the afternoon into the early evening have been released.
Authorities are looking for 40-year-old Dana Alan Plotts, of Lyle, in connection to three warrants that ultimately lead to Tuesday’s standoff.
Dana Alan Plotts
According to Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik, a tip came in that Plotts had entered a residence in the 400 block of Second Street in Lyle. Plotts has three active warrants including two misdemeanors for failure to pay child support and contempt of court regarding the failure to pay child supportand one gross misdemeanor for driving after cancellation of his license-inimical to public safety (DAC-IPS), which he was sentenced to earlier this year.
Lyle Police Chief Tom Herrick responded to the call, attempting to make contact and not long after, requested assistance to set up a perimeter when he failed to make contact.
Contact was attempted by knocking on the door and by PA system with no response.
A search warrant was drafted and with help from the Mower County Sheriff’s Department, a search was conducted of the house. Upon entry several firearms were discovered including shotguns, rifles and pellet guns. The Austin/Mower County Special Incident Response Team was then dispatched at around 4 p.m. to help search the residence.
Primary and secondary searches were conducted, but failed to turn up Plotts or anybody at the home.
Members of Austin’s Special Incident and Response Team prepare after arriving on scene in Lyle for a standoff incident Tuesday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The dismissal of students at Lyle Public School, which was just a couple blocks from the incident, was temporarily delayed as a precautionary measure as law enforcement attempted to locate Plotts, according to Mower County Chief Deputy Mark May on Tuesday.
The Lyle Public School Facebook page announced at about 4:24 p.m. that all students and staff had been dismissed.
“Thank you for your patience in this matter. We implemented a soft lockdown upon being informed of a police standoff only a few blocks away from the school,” the LPS Facebook page read.
Lyle Superintendent and Elementary Principal Bryan Boysen confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that students from Austin began busing home at around 4 p.m. and that parents for students in Lyle came to get their children.
“At no time was the school directly in danger,” Sandvik said, explaining that the lockdown was precautionary in nature only.
If anybody has any information on the whereabouts of Plotts they are encouraged to call the Mower County Sheriff’s Department at 1-507-437-9400.
Members of Austin’s Special Incident Response Team approach a home in Lyle during a standoff incident Tuesday afternoon. No arrests have been made. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
