HATBORO, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A standoff between police and a man ended after about 14 hours Wednesday morning in Hatboro, Montgomery County. Police said the 35-year-old suspect barricaded himself in his apartment after he pointed a gun at drivers the night before.
Hatboro police said it started around 9 p.m. Tuesday. Police responded to reports of a man in Hatboro pointing a gun at passing traffic. At least two drivers noticed and reported it.
“She told us that he pointed the gun directly at her and tracked her up York Road while standing on the sidewalk,” said Hatboro Police Chief James Gardner.
She told police that the man did the same thing to the driver behind her. A nearby officer responded and saw the suspect go into an apartment located above a business at York Road and Moreland Avenue.
Police said he barricaded himself inside and was unresponsive. He turned both of his phones — a home and cell number — off.
“We’ve tried with negotiators,” Gardner said prior to the man's arrest. “We’ve tried hailing him on loudspeakers. We’ve used drones that we’ve tried to contact him with.
“He was completely noncompliant, so the team entered and they were able to take him into custody.”
SWAT officers arrived at the scene early Wednesday morning. Sometime after 11 a.m., they entered the apartment and apprehended him in a windowless bathroom. They did not find a weapon on him at that time.
The 35-year-old man was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The standoff took about 14 hours in all.
Police did not go into detail about the suspect or whether or not they have dealt with him before.
No shots were fired, and no one was hurt.
Residents in the immediate area were initially asked to shelter in place.
All Hatboro-Horsham School District schools were closed Wednesday as a safety precaution. York Road and Moreland Avenue were also closed to traffic.
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