Montco standoff ends after 9 hours, man in custody

FRANCONIA TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A barricade situation in Montgomery County that began Tuesday afternoon ended after nine hours.

The male suspect was taken into custody just before 11 p.m. He is expected to get a mental health checkup.

Beginning around 2:30 p.m., a quiet neighborhood in Franconia Township was under heavy police presence.

What started as a routine welfare check on Bartlet Court escalated into a barricade situation and standoff.

Homes on the cul-de-sac were evacuated when reports surfaced that a 54-year-old man was intoxicated inside his home and willing to harm himself.

Police don't believe he was armed, but know there were weapons inside.

"He's experiencing some personal issues which caused this. We have trained negotiators who are trying to make contact with this man. It's a fluid situation," Franconia Police Chief Joe Kozeniewski said.

More SWAT units suited up as the skies grew dark.

But several residents didn't realize the magnitude of the situation unfolding on their neighborhood block.

"I saw the police cars coming around, and I just figured it was an accident," resident Jean Frederick said.

School buses were told not to drop off students in the neighborhood and were held back at the schools.

Action News is told all students were picked up by parents at the schools and are safe.

No injuries have been reported.