Police search for armed suspect who barricaded himself in motel

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Metro Police Department is searching for an armed man who barricaded himself in a south side hotel room late Thursday night.

According to police, around 8:12 p.m., a man later identified as William Beathy threatened people outside a business at 4950 S East St. and forced his way into a room that did not belong to him.

When officers arrived, they were directed toward the room Beathy had forced his way into. The people who had rented the room had already run out.

Beathy did not come out when asked by officers and a special weapons team was called, who treated the incident as an armed, barricaded offender.

According to police, when officers entered the room, Beathy went through a wall inside the room into a second room and then escaped before a barrier was put in place.

IMPD describes Beathy as a white male with long hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and gray pants, armed with a handgun.

According to police, Beathy has numerous previous arrest warrants for theft, forgery, counterfeiting and resisting police. He also threatened people with a weapon and had his home broken into.

Police do not know where Beathy is or why he chose this room, as the tenants at the motel did not know him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact IMPD at 317-327-3475 and ask for a Southeast District detective or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS (8477).