Plymouth Man Sentenced For Four-Hour Standoff Incident In 2016

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, PA — A Plymouth man has been sentenced to six years of probation in connection with a 2016 armed standoff in the township, according to court documents.

Michael Sean Somers, 48, avoided jail time as part of a plea agreement, in which he pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a firearm with intent to employ it criminally, documents show.

Somers was arrested in Plymouth Township on Aug. 30, 2016 after a four-hour long standoff with police, officials said.

The incident occurred on the 3000 block of Arch Road at about 4:35 p.m. that day when police received reports of an individual threatening suicide, according to a press release from police.

Somers was also threatening to harm any officers that attempted to stop him from killing himself, police said.

Somers communicated with a trainer negotiator, Officer David Zinni, and told him that he "did not like the police."

Police closed the area to all foot and vehicular traffic and Montgomery County SWAT units were called to the scene, police said.

After hours of negotiations, Somers exited his home carrying a loaded .45 caliber handgun. SWAT officers incapacitated him with "less than lethal" force, police said. He was treated for his injuries at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.

The incident ended by about 8:30 p.m. that night.

Patch file photo