Medford police nab rooftop trespasser

A late-night stand off with police ended with a man in custody and awaiting charges.

According to Medford Police Chief Chad Liske, on Tuesday, August 1 at about 11:38 p.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call from a resident in the 800 block of E. Broadway in the city reporting hearing the sounds of footsteps on the roof of the residence.

An officer from the Medford Police Department arrived at the location at about 11:45 p.m. and saw a male subject on the roof of the residence. Deputies from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to assist.

According to Liske, the male subject made his way to a garage connected to the residence and fell through the roof, into the attic space of the garage. Officers and Deputies attempted contact with the male subject and ordered for him to come down from the attic area. The male subject then barricaded himself in the attic space and refused to comply with commands to come out.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the incident by sending a K9 Unit to the scene to assist if needed. After negotiating with the male subject, Officers and Deputies were able to successfully arrest the subject at 1:28 AM without further incident.

The male subject was identified as 38-year-old Luke J. Hudak. Request for Charges is being filed on Hudak for Criminal Trespassing, Criminal Damage to Property, and Resisting Arrest.

“The Medford Police Department wishes to thank the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Ambulance Service, and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office for assisting with the incident,” Liske said.