Pulaski Man Arrested After Standoff

An arrest was made early Saturday morning after a Pulaski man barricaded himself inside a house and engaged in a standoff with law enforcement for several hours. Officers had attempted to serve warrants on Paul Jamie Rathe, age 49, when he barricaded himself inside with two other adults.  Pulaski Police and Giles County deputies were joined by the THP Special Operations Unit who breached the home with a robot, providing them with valuable information.   Tear gas was deployed and the other two adults were able to escape the home.  Rather than surrender, Rathe set the home on fire and attempted to flee out the back.  He was later captured.  The home was completely destroyed in the fire, along with the THP robot, which was valued at a half-a-million dollars.  Rathe is incarcerated on numerous charges, including evading arrest, felony possession of a handgun, and assault on first responders.  Additional charges are expected.