UPDATE 3/3 3:54 P.M. - The suspect who threw flares at officers and set his house on fire during a SWAT situation has been identified.
54-year-old William Bryer's son called police Wednesday afternoon requesting a welfare check for his father, and warned them as his father had a sword and flares.
West Deer Township Police Chief Robert Loper said when officers arrived, Bryar allegedly launched roman candles from an upstairs window and told the officers to get out.
"Approximately six of them, nearly missing officers and one striking one of our police cars."
Bryar then allegedly began setting small fires inside the house, and came out when the fire got to be too big. He's facing multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated assault and arson.
Police and SERT team officers have surrounded a house on Huntertown Road in West Deer Township.
According to sources, someone has barricaded himself in a home.
Deer Lakes School District posted an update to its Facebook page announcing the alteration of bus routes for school drop-offs.
Updates from the scene conclude that a man had exited the burning home and was searched before being placed on a stretcher and taken away in an ambulance.
Firefighters continued to extinguish flames following the suspect being taken away.
According to reports, the suspect was equipped with a sword, roman candles, and a flare gun.
The suspect opened fire at SWAT officers with the flare gun before exiting the house.
The fire was set by the suspect, but no motive is known and it was the fire that drove him out.
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