East Haven Police Charge Man In Standoff That Led To Lockdown

EAST HAVEN, CT — Police have charged the man armed who barricaded himself inside a garage in a standoff with police Tuesday that shuttered streets, led to a school lowdown, and prompted a shelter in place advisory.

David Burgh, 67, of Stevens Street, was charged with assault on police officer/public safety/EMS officials, first-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with police/resisting arrest and second-degree breach of peace.

Burgh, who faced a judge Friday morning, was held on a $25,000 court set bail.

Early in the afternoon Tuesday, police posted to social media asking residents to avoid the area between Austin and Soundview avenues. And an alert from the town asked residents around North Atwater, Henry and George streets to remain in their homes.

Soon, out of an abundance of caution, Momauguin School was locked-down and East Haven High School and James Melillo Middle School were alerted because of possible delays for busses, East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said. Shortly after, he confirmed that the South Central Regional SWAT was "activated."

After almost two hours of negotiation, Murgo said Burgh was in custody and the "incident has been resolved peacefully."

The standoff began soon after the East Haven Public Safety Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a woman reporting a domestic incident on Stevens Street. She said her husband, Burgh, who had fled the house and ran into a detached garage, was intoxicated and in possession of a hatchet, Murgo said.

Police arrived and tried to talk to Burgh repeatedly, "who continuously pointed a hand gun at officers while coming to the doorway of the garage," Murgo said. Police later learned the firearm was a BB gun, he said.

Murgo said "a less lethal plan was developed" to safely take him into custody and by around 2:40, "through the use of less lethal means," he was.

Once in custody, Burgh, who sustained minor injuries, was treated on scene by East Haven Fire Department personnel before being transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for evaluation.