14-Hour Standoff Over In Hatboro, Police Have Suspect In Custody

Updated: 12:10 p.m.

HATBORO, PA —The Hatboro Police Department has taken a 35-year-old borough man into custody following a 14-hour standoff that started Tuesday night.

Police Chief James Gardner said the standoff started at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday with the man, whom police have not identified, barricading himself in an apartment and pointing a firearm at motorists on York Road.

He said the SWAT team tried to make contact throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning but to no avail. "He refused to communicate," the chief said.

Gardner said the man was taken to Abington Hospital for evaluation. He said a search warrant is being conducted at the apartment and that the man will be charged with making terroristic threats and assault with a gun among possible other charges depending on what the search warrant finds.

Warminster Police Chief James Donnelly, who handles the Central Bucks County SWAT team, said the suspect had turned off his house and cell phones and that tear gas was used before the SWAT team entered his apartment.

Authorities said no shots were fired and there were no injuries.

"He was in a two-story building in the middle of town," Gardner said. "I'm glad this ended safely."

The "shelter-in-place" alert was canceled shortly after the suspect was taken into custody and all roads were opened.

Police issued the alert at 4:22 a.m. Wednesday, telling residents near the scene to "shelter in place." Schools were also shut for the day.

Police said the standoff was within an apartment located at the intersection of York Road and Moreland Avenue. The police alert was issued at 4:22 a.m. Wednesday.

York Road was closed between Montgomery Avenue and Byberry Road. Moreland Avenue was closed between Penn Street and Chester Avenue. The York Road business district was shut down and stores were closed.

The Hatboro-Horsham School District sent out a notice just before 7 a.m. alerting parents that all schools and offices are closed due to "significant police activity" in Hatboro.

Councilman Alex Myers said a public safety committee meeting was held around 9 a.m. Wednesday to get an update on the incident. He said a SWAT team and authorities from Bucks County and neighboring police departments had joined Hatboro police on the scene.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we want to keep this minimized," Myers said. "He's alone in an apartment and we're doing everything we can. No one wants to see a loss of life or anyone get hurt."

Numerous borough businesses had posted on Facebook that their shops were closed due to the standoff.

"It can be highly inconvenient being that this is in our downtown district," Myers said. "But we have to prioritize lives."