On September 10, Athens Police Department officers responded to a report of a man, later identified as 20-year-old Anthony J. Porter, attempting to break into a trailer on Hamby Street by smacking its side. The woman inside the residence denied knowing Porter and demanded he leave. When an officer attempted to pat him down, Porter resisted, leading to a physical altercation where he was drive-stunned and wrestled to the ground after allegedly trying to choke the officer.

Despite being briefly detained, Porter escaped, fled down Million Street, and broke into another home. There, he held the homeowner hostage in a chokehold while the homeowner waved a firearm. Officers, with guns drawn, ordered the homeowner to drop the weapon, and both he and Porter complied.

Porter was arrested, charged with especially aggravated burglary, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, aggravated criminal trespassing, public intoxication, vandalism, kidnapping, and resisting arrest, and held on a $175,000 bond.

Both Porter and the homeowner were treated for injuries.