Tennessee man arrested after SWAT standoff and alleged assault

Mark A. Harden, 33, was arrested following a SWAT standoff at the Smokies Motel in Kodak, Tennessee. According to an affidavit of complaint, Harden is accused of threatening to kill a woman, pouring gasoline on her, and setting her on fire.

The victim reportedly sustained first- and second-degree burns to her face and body but was able to extinguish the flames using sink water before escaping. Police records allege that Harden placed the woman in a chokehold and dragged her into a house during the incident. He is also accused of stealing a vehicle.

Following reports of the crime, the Sevierville Police Department located Harden at the motel. He reportedly barricaded himself in a room, prompting a response from a SWAT team, crisis negotiators, and a K-9 unit. Officers eventually used a tactical drone, chemical agents, and a K-9 to apprehend him. Harden faces charges of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic assault, and theft of a vehicle.