FMPD identifies man they tried serving warrant to, later found dead in attic

Fort Myers police identified Marvin Barton, 45, as the man they tried serving a warrant on Tuesday that they spotted hours before they found him dead in the attic of a Dunbar Street home.

A situation involving Barton, listed as a Dunbar Street resident, and Fort Myers police ended after about four hours when officers found his body in the attic.

At a media briefing later Tuesday, Fort Myers police Capt. Shawn Yates said officers came to 2800 block of Dunbar Street to serve a search warrant on a felony investigation around 2 p.m.

"Going into the search warrant they had charges on one subject for aggravated battery and kidnapping," Yates said. "As detectives ... came up to the residence the subject was outside and fled into the residence, eventually working his way into the attic."

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Several hours into the incident, Yates said police SWAT team made its way into the attic and found Barton dead around 6 p.m.

Because of the death, Yates said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the investigation and will determine the cause of death.

"We do that so we have transparency," Yates said, "and make sure we are doing everything correctly."

Barton has a lengthy criminal record dating to 1986 including arrests for drug possession, grand theft, burglary, writing bad checks, violating state saltwater fishing and other Florida fishing and wildlife rules, obstruction, battery and weapon offenses.

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com. 

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers police ID Marvin Barton as wanted man found dead in attic