Armed Man Taken Into Custody After Marple Incident Monday: Police

MARPLE TOWNSHIP, PA — An armed man was taken into custody Monday after a domestic dispute in Marple township, and the township's top cop is lauding two responding officers for a quick and safe resolution.

The man, identified as James MacMichael, 41, of Broomall, was felony aggravated assault and terroristic threats in connection with the incident.

It all began at about 2:19 p.m. Monday at a home on the 400 block of Yale Avenue, according to police.

Officers Joe Varacalli and Bobby Schrock were called to the home by MacMichael's mother for a report of a domestic dispute involving a man armed with a rifle.

While on scene, Vacaralli and Schrock encountered the mother and another person who was in the home. Those two told Vacaralli and Schrock was in the home's basement.

Vacaralli and Schrock tried communicating with the MacMichael from the top of the basement stairs, but MacMichael was not responsive, police said.

Eventually, the two were able to get MacMichael to respond, and he came up the stairs unarmed.

Before MacMichael came up from the basement, he told his mother, who was with police, over the phone he was "locked and loaded," according to authorities.

Those comments are what led to the charges, police said.

MacMichael was under the influence of alcohol, according to police.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Police seized a large piece of an AR-15 rifle from the home's basement. Authorities said MacMichael is known to legally possess firearms.

Marple Township Police Chief Brandon Graeff lauded the courage, patience, and calmness of Varacalli and Schrock. He said their composure led the incident to be wrapped up in about 25 minutes, so fast that a request for a SWAT response was canceled.

Police said there was no danger to the neighborhood and its residents during the incident.

Newtown, Media, Springfield, Upper Providence, Radnor, Chester City, and Chester Township police assisted at the scene in setting up a perimeter and securing the house, police said.

MacMichael is being held on 10 percent of $50,000 bail and is scheduled for an April 11 preliminary hearing, court records show.