Armed Suspect Charged After SWAT Standoff In Bradenton: Sheriff

BRADENTON, FL — A man faces charges after an armed standoff with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

When deputies tried to arrest Jamie Steffanuski on an active felony warrant around 5:15 p.m., he brandished a gun and barricaded himself in a mobile home at Fair Lanes Acres Mobile Home Park on 49th Avenue Terrace W. in Bradenton, according to a MCSO news release.

Steffanuski, 48, refused to come out and made threats to harm deputies if they came into the home, the agency said. After hours of negotiation, he gave himself up to SWAT team members.

As he was being taken into custody, a fire was seen inside the residence. Fire crews responded and extinguished the fire in the heavily damaged mobile home, MCSO said.

No one was injured during the fire or the standoff with deputies.

Steffanuski was charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement.

The suspect is also believed to have intentionally set the mobile home on fire before surrendering to deputies and is being investigated for arson by the fire marshal, the sheriff’s office said.