Groveland, CA….Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Deputies captured a man who held a woman hostage for more than a week.
On Friday afternoon, deputies responded to a reported assault and learned 61-year-old John Banks of Groveland had beaten, tied up, threatened to kill, and held the victim against her will for over a week. The victim was able to escape and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. The victim also told deputies that Banks was in possession of firearms and made threats to engage in a gun fight with deputies.

Detectives took over the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Banks on numerous charges including domestic battery, false imprisonment with violence, criminal threats, intimidating a victim, kidnapping, and damaging or destroying a wireless communication device.

Because of the seriousness of the offenses and the risk of serving the arrest warrant, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Crisis Response Unit, consisting of SWAT and the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), was sent to the man’s home on Saturday night. The Crisis Response Unit arrived at Banks home in Groveland just after 8 p.m. Shortly after our team’s arrival, Banks confronted our deputies, who were outside the home, and was armed with a gun.

The confrontation sparked an officer-involved shooting with multiple deputies. Banks was struck and deputies immediately began performing aid to him. Banks was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition. None of the deputies were injured during the incident.

The officer-involved shooting is under investigation. Per standard procedure, the deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. Banks is currently receiving medical treatment and has not been booked. He may face several additional felony charges related to the officer-involved shooting. More details will be released once available.