NORTHUMBERLAND - A borough man, reportedly armed with a shotgun, kept police at bay for eight hours in a standoff Saturday night into Sunday morning.
The incident ended at 2:08 a.m. when the man surrendered to police after tactical police teams prepared to deploy tear gas containers inside a home at 567 Priestly Ave.
Police decided to use the tear gas after the suspect refused to leave the home, which was posted with signs saying "No trespassing, violators will be shot."
Northumberland Police Chief Tim Fink did not identify the man, saying the police, in conjunction with the Northumberland County District Attorney's office, are still investigating.
Neighbors evacuated
In a release Sunday night, Fink said they received a call at 6:38 p.m. reporting a man had barricated himself in a home with firearms.
According to witnesses at the scene, the individual had checked himself out of the hospital earlier that day. The suspect's wife left the residence earlier and went to her father's home nearby. Police did not identify who reported the incident.
Not knowing what type of weapons the man had access to, police cordoned off a five-block area around the home, using fire police to keep vehicles out of the area.
The suspect did not respond to demands that he leave the home, and officers called in the Susquehanna Valley Strategic Emergency Response Team from Lewisburg to assist.
Armed with assault rifles and wearing protective gear including kevlar helmets and bulletproof vests, the team evacuated residents in nearby homes for their safety.
With temperatures dropping to near-to-below freezing, Sunbury's Americus Hose Company set up a relief trailer with food and hot beverages for residents as the standoff continued.
At 11:30 p.m., the wife informed police she had received a text message from her husband, claiming he was okay. She asked police if she could go to the house to speak with her husband.
The wife continued her phone conversation with the suspect while police escorted her to the home in a squad car. Police prohibited her from entering the home, but told the suspect over the loudspeaker that he was not under arrest but that his "wife is here and she wants to talk to you."
After 30 minutes with no response, the police drove away and planned their next move.
The wife said the suspect sent her another message, stating he was tired and going to bed, according to police.
Suspect surrenders
Several family members expressed concern about the wife, who, according to her father, was overdue for a home dialysis treatment. The wife kept repeatedly said she was fine as she watched nervously.
At 1:30 a.m., the tactical team prepared to lob tear gas grenades into the home to end the standoff.
Two loud pops could be heard from the area near the home.
The wife relayed a text message from her husband that she had inadvertently missed.
"He says he will come out with no gun. There's not need to use the tear gas," she said. "He just wants to make sure his cats are okay."
The male was taken into custody at 2:08 a.m. The wife was visibly upset that he was being taken to jail.
"Why are you putting him in the car?" she yelled. "You said if he came out, I could talk to him. If you take him to jail, I will sue."
Northumberland firefighters ventilated the home. The suspect was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for medical evaluation. No condition update was available because he was identified by police.
Police officers from Point Township, Lewisburg, Milton Danville, and Nesquehoning and personnel from several ambulance companies assisted Northumberland Borough Police.