WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — A suspect wanted for sex trafficking is in jail after barricading himself in a Williamsburg motel.
Evan Anthony Cole surrendered without incident and he’s now facing a slew of other charges.
Cole is the same suspect wanted by Williamsburg Police for allegedly trying to force two victims into prostitution last week.
The weeklong manhunt came to an end Thursday afternoon as law enforcement swarmed the Travelodge Inn and Suites off Bypass Road.
“He’s in custody, he’s facing multiple charges and a dangerous suspect is off the street,” said Capt. Dennis Ivey, with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office said they got a call after a regular day on the job for two Travelodge employees turned into a terrifying situation.
A viewer snapped a picture of Cole as deputies took him into custody.
The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office said they got a call after a regular day on the job for two Travelodge employees turned into a terrifying situation.
“Two maintenance workers heard a noise in a vacant room so they went to check on the room so upon opening the door, the suspect pointed a gun at them,” Ivey said.
Officials said Cole ordered the workers to the ground and then barricaded himself in another vacant room, though it’s not known how he was able to get inside either of those units.
Negotiators from the Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiation Team made contact with Cole and not long after, he came out peacefully.
“We are so glad that this incident ended the way it did,” Ivey said. “We never want one of these incidents to end in violence. This is a textbook way to work one of these incidents.”
Williamsburg Police had been looking for Cole since July 5.
That’s when two victims told police Cole kidnapped and forced them into prostitution. Police said Cole also strangled, assaulted, and robbed the victims.
The sheriff’s office said the maintenance workers are shaken but thankfully no one was injured.
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“The main thing is that everybody’s safe and everybody goes home and the suspect goes to jail,” Ivey said.
Cole is facing charges in York County for abduction and several firearms offenses from Thursday’s incident.
He’s currently at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.