FREDERICK CO. BARRICADE ENDS PEACEFULLY

(WALKERSVILLE, MD) – A Frederick County man is undergoing examinations at a hospital after a seven-hour standoff with police ended peacefully early this morning when State Police entered his barricaded room and found him in need of assistance.

The man is not being publicly identified because he is not being charged with a crime. He is a 52-year-old man who resides in the 200-block of Creek Walk Drive, Walkersville, Md.

Shortly before 5:00 p.m. yesterday, a 911 call was received at the Frederick County Emergency Communications Center from a woman who reported a domestic disturbance and said her husband was threatening to harm himself and others. He had told his wife to get out of the house. Troopers and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the home.

Arriving troopers found the man had thrown items from his home outside and had barricaded himself in an upstairs bedroom. Troopers went to the bedroom door and tried to talk with the man. He refused to come out and told them he had firearms and enough explosives to “blow the place up.” The troopers retreated from the home and, with the assistance of deputies, established a perimeter around the home.

The man’s wife and adult daughter were able to leave the home. No one else was inside the home.

Due to the threat of an explosion made by the man, troopers and deputies evacuated between 60 and 80 neighbors from homes in the immediate area. The displaced residents were taken to a nearby church. About two-thirds of them were permitted to return to the homes later last evening. There were about 20 people from the direct proximity of the man’s house who had to wait outside the perimeter until the situation ended early today.

The Maryland State Police Hostage Recovery Team responded and negotiators worked throughout the night attempting to talk with the man. Late in the evening a dialog was established, but did not last long due to the man’s unwillingness to talk with negotiators.

Members of the Maryland State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element responded and secured a perimeter around the area throughout the night. When the man continued to refuse to talk with negotiators and, out of concern for his safety, STATE Team troopers entered the home with the permission of the man’s wife. Tactical troopers made their way to the door of the upstairs bedroom and could hear the man inside moaning.

Shortly after 12:00 a.m. today, STATE Team members pushed open the barricaded bedroom door and found the man lying in a bathroom off the bedroom. He was lethargic and had a small laceration on his head. Maryland State Police tactical medics provided immediate emergency care and transported the man outside where he was assisted by personnel from Frederick County Medic 17, who had been at the scene all night. After an examination on-scene, the man was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for medical and psychological examinations.

No shots were fired by the man or by police during the incident. Troopers and deputies from the Office of the State Fire Marshal found no firearms in the home, nor did they find any bombs or materials that could be used to make explosives.

In addition to the Maryland State Police and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, a number of other allied public safety agencies assisted at the scene. They include the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Frederick County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Walkersville Rescue Company Medic 17, Walkersville Volunteer Fire Department, and the Independent Hose Company Rehab Unit.