A hostage situation at a New Waverly home led to the arrest of a 38 year old man, following a lengthy standoff with SWAT.
According to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, 38 year old Mark Joseph Mathison showed up at his estranged wife’s home around 7 am, and began arguing with family members. From there, investigators say Mathison shot an elderly woman in the shoulder, then struck another woman with the stock of the gun. Mathison then forced the woman he struck, his two step children, and estranged wife into the house.
Once inside, authorities said that Mathison pepper sprayed them, and held them hostage.
Deputies rescued the elderly woman who had been shot, and she was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
Mathison kept the hostages for several hours, as teams worked to negotiate a release. At about 5 pm, he released his estranged wife, and surrendered a short time afterward.
Mathison was arrested, and booked in the Walker County Jail on seven different charges, with six of them being first degree felonies.
4 counts of Aggravated Kidnapping (First Degree Felony)
4 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (First Degree Felony)
2 counts of Injury to a Child (Third Degree Felony)
Burglary of a Habitation with Intent of other Felony (First Degree Felony)
Arson Intent Damage Habitat (First Degree Felony)
Tampering with a Witness (First Degree Felony)
And he also had a Warrant out of Montgomery County for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under 14 (First Degree Felony)
Mathison remains in the Walker County Jail.