(PELLA, Iowa) – A standoff between an Illinois man and Iowa law enforcement ended late Wednesday afternoon with the death of the man.

On Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at approximately 6:30 pm the Pella Police Department received a report from a local citizen concerning the welfare of a man staying in the Pella area. The man, later identified as Jonathan W. Martin, 62, of Galena, IL, was located in an apartment on W. 16th Street in Pella. Upon further investigation Pella officers learned that Martin was a fugitive from the State of Illinois, wanted on felony charges with nationwide extradition authorized. Officers attempted to establish contact with Martin, but multiple efforts were rejected.

Pella officers concluded that an additional person, a female, was in the apartment with Martin. Officers were eventually able to speak with the female, but efforts to have Martin exit the unit failed.

At the request of the Pella Police Department, on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, mid-morning, negotiators from the Iowa State Patrol assumed the lead in negotiating with the occupants of the apartment. The female occupant in the apartment agreed to exit prior to noon, and was found to be uninjured. As the event played out it was clearly established that additional assets were required to successfully resolve the incident. The ISP State Tactical Unit responded to the scene and upon entering the apartment determined that Mr. Martin was deceased of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The scene and incident was turned over to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Pella Police Department Criminal Investigations for evaluation and further investigation. Martin was transferred to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, Ankeny, Iowa, where he will undergo a forensic examination.