A man reported to have vanished while kayaking in Galveston has been apprehended as a fugitive in Central Texas, authorities said. Identified as Joseph Grams, the man was involved in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement before being taken into custody at his Reagan, Texas home by Falls County deputies.
On Thursday, Galveston Police were spurred into action when Grams reported over a call, claiming he was in distress after being swept out too far at sea during a kayaking trip off 11th Street and Seawall Blvd. Following the distress call, a multi-agency search was launched, including the Coast Guard, Galveston Beach Patrol, and local police. They discovered only a waterlogged kayak, with Grams nowhere to be found, as reported by FOX 26 Houston.
The turn of events led to yesterday's standoff at Grams’ residential address in Central Texas, orchestrated by multiple law enforcement agencies from Falls, Robertson, and McLennan Counties. After four tense hours, the standoff concluded with Grams' arrest.
While the specifics of Grams' alleged crimes have not been disclosed, the Falls County Sheriff’s Office has indicated that he was indeed wanted. "It is unclear at this time what crime Grams was wanted for," Click2Houston states, also noting their ongoing efforts to obtain more detailed information on the case.
The circumstances surrounding Grams' initial distress call are under investigation. Galveston Police have not yet responded to requests for comment.
