Walkersville home barricade that evacuated dozens ends peacefully
Standoff that closed roads ends after seven hours
An unidentified 52-year-old man engaged Maryland State Police in a seven-hour standoff when he barricaded himself in his Walkersville home Tuesday afternoon, according to a press release from Maryland State Police.
The man was flown to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for medical and psychological examinations after the incident ended peacefully early Wednesday. Police entered the man's home, in the 200 block of Creek Walk Drive, and found him in need of assistance. He is not being charged with a crime.
At about 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Frederick County Department of Emergency Communications fielded a call from a woman who said her husband was threatening to harm himself and others.
State troopers and Frederick County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the call. Upon their arrival, they found the man had barricaded himself in an upstairs bedroom and refused to come out, threatening that he had firearms and enough explosives "to blow the place up," according to the release.
Police left the house and established a perimeter. The man's wife and adult daughter got out of the home safely, and between 60 and 80 people from neighboring homes were also evacuated to a nearby church due to the possibility of explosives.
About two-thirds of the displaced neighbors were allowed to return to their homes Tuesday night, but those who lived closest to the home had to wait until after midnight Wednesday morning, when the situation was resolved, according to the release.
Later investigation by police showed that no firearms or explosives were actually in the home.
The Maryland State Police Hostage Recovery Team responded and negotiators worked through the night. The Maryland State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element maintained the perimeter.
Shortly after midnight Wednesday morning, police entered the home out of concern for the man's safety and could hear him moaning inside the bedroom. They entered and saw him lying in the attached bathroom.
"He was lethargic and had a small laceration on his head," the release said.
Medics provided emergency care on the scene and took the man outside, where he got additional medical assistance. No shots were fired by the man or police during the incident.
cpomeroy@gazette.net
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