Arrest Made in Attempted Homicide After Rodeway Inn Standoff

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A man wanted on an attempted murder charge is in custody following a lengthy standoff Tuesday at a Rodeway Inn in New Port Richey.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Michael Putnam, 43, had barricaded himself into a room at the 6826 U.S. 19 motel on Oct. 25. A standoff began with deputies sometime before 11 a.m. and ended with Putnam in custody shortly before 2 p.m. The incident forced an evacuation of the motel and a closing of U.S. 19 in the area.

Putnam was wanted in connection with an Oct. 18 shooting that occurred in the Hudson area. Putnam is accused of arguing with a woman and then pulling a small caliber revolver on her. Deputies say Putnam shot the woman in the arm, but she was able to get away from him shortly after being shot. The woman went to a nearby Dollar General store where she asked clerks to call 911 for her, the sheriff's office said.

Putnam had been on the loose since the Oct. 18 shooting. He now faces attempted homicide and felon in possession of a firearm charges.

No further information about the standoff is being released.

Photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office