Man With Knife Arrested After Warminster Standoff: Police

WARMINSTER, PA — Police in Warminster on Wednesday arrested a man after they say he broke into a home and barricaded himself inside with a knife.

The Wednesday morning incident disrupted the neighborhood around the 900 block of Windsor Road, where some students were told to remain home from school while police responded.

Ryan Matthew Cooper, 28, is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, assault, terroristic threats and possession of an instrument of crime. He also was charged with assault on two residents of the home which police say happened on an earlier date.

Police responded to a report of a man with a knife threatening to harm himself.

Upon arriving, they say they encountered Cooper, who was intoxicated and armed with a knife, refusing to allow several occupants of the home to leave. After about an hour, police were able to negotiate the release of the residents. They were evacuated and no one was injured, police said.

Eventually, police say, Cooper stopped communicating with them. The Central Bucks Special Response Team entered the home and found him barricaded in an upstairs bedroom with the knife. He was taken into custody with no injuries.

Cooper was arraigned Wednesday and was being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Shortly after 8 a.m., Centennial School District officials announced that police were active in the areas of Victoria, Windsor, Coronet and Parry roads in Warminster. The activity, school officials said, was "not related to any safety concerns for any of the schools."

Busing was suspended for those streets and, while schools remained open, students in that area were asked to remain in their homes. Shortly afterward, the school system, which had been in contact with police, announced that the situation had been resolved and that all students should report to class.

Early Wednesday morning, Warminster Township Manager Gregg Schuster took to Facebook to warn residents to avoid the area near Windsor and Henry roads. Shortly before 8:30 a.m., he posted again, announcing that the situation had been resolved and "an individual is in custody."

Photo courtesy Warminster Township Police Department