FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- Fort Smith police arrested a man overnight after a standoff and an earlier car chase.
Police and members of the SWAT team surrounded a home on Irving Street on the north side of town. They said they believed Michael Sayavong, 36, who had led police on a chase earlier Sunday was inside the home. Police said Sayavong had several felony warrants as well as an extensive history.
After several attempts to contact him and negotiate his exit from the home, the SWAT team was called in. They fired tear gas into the home and entered it, bringing Sayavong out a few minutes later in handcuffs.
"Prior to making entry, though we did attempt to negotiate him out using our SWAT team negotiators, but once he didn't respond, the decision was made to go in and get him out of there," said Sgt. Steven Dooly of the Fort Smith Police.
His sister, Alice Sayavong, spoke with 5NEWS about the other side of her brother.
"I know people see things on the news like oh, hes a drug dealer," Alice said. "He's a thug and all that stuff. But he's really nice. He's just had a very hard life and always did that when he was growing up."
Sayavong is now behind bars at the Sebastian County jail on nearly $25,000 bond.