February 17, 2023 - The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office reported that on Wednesday 2-15-2023 just after 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, deputies responded to the area of Phoenix Lake Road near Bear Cub Drive for two 911 hang ups. During the second 911 hang up, yelling was heard prior to the phone disconnecting.

When deputies arrived on scene, they spoke to a female victim who told them she had been in an argument with her boyfriend, 47-year-old Michael Snell. A record check of both Snell and the victim found there was a court order protecting the victim from Snell assaulting, threatening, abusing, harassing, following, interfering with, or stalking her. The female had recently been a victim of domestic violence involving Snell. Deputies tried to talk to Snell, but he did not respond. The victim told deputies Snell had a second female hostage inside of the bathroom. Deputies were able to make contact with the second victim by cell phone, and she told them she was a hostage and was not able to leave.

Snell began talking to deputies just before 3:00 p.m. and refused to exit the home or allow the second victim to leave. Snell asked deputies to speak to a hostage negotiator. Snell made several concerning statements to deputies including he was in possession of a gun and flammable liquid, references to the second female victim as his bargaining chip and statements he would harm the second victim. Statements made by other involved parties indicated Snell possessed a knife and was making statements he would not go back to jail.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, and Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) responded to the scene. For the next several hours they negotiated with Snell towards a peaceful resolution of the incident. As the negotiations continued, deputies learned Snell made a barricade in the hallway by tying doors together. Just after 8:00 p.m. the female victim exited the residence where deputies offered her medical aid which she declined. Snell retuned to the bathroom of the residence. SWAT personnel entered the residence and took Snell into custody in the bathroom. Snell was provided with medical aid for minor self-inflicted injury.

During further investigation, including a search of the residence detectives found a wooden furniture leg, knife, shotgun, several hundred rounds of various ammunition, spent casings and reloading equipment.

Snell was transported to the Dambacher Detention Center (DDC) where he was booked on charges of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, false imprisonment, false imprisonment of another to avoid arrest and violation of a protective order.

Once again, we want to thank our community for your patience and support during this incident.

Source: Tuolumne County Sheriff