Police and SWAT teams on scene of apparent barricade situation in Ann Arbor
This story has been updated: Standoff between suicidal armed man, police has ended
Police, crisis negotiators and a SWAT crew were still on the scene Sunday afternoon of a standoff situation that has barricaded a condominium development on the city's northeast side, where a suicidal man was reportedly threatening officers.
A reader sent in this photo of a barricade situation in northeast Ann Arbor.
Photo submitted by Dennis Skupinski
The man alluded to possessing a weapon, but police did not enter the basement where he was located, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office spokesman Derrick Jackson said.
"We'll call it a barricaded subject at this point," Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Mike Scherba said. At the time there was no known hostage.
"He made mention that he had a gun. But officers couldn't confirm that," Scherba said.
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office SWAT and negotiations teams are on the scene, Scherba said, and the AAPD has a command officer on location.
Police have released little information about the incident. Scherba told the Detroit Free Press that police were directed downstairs by the man's mother, where the man is holed up. He reportedly threatened to shoot any officer who approached him and said he wanted to end his own life.
Scherba said earlier that no shots had been fired.
Jackson said the situation has been contained and that negotiations have progressed.
"It went from having very limited contact to being able to talk to him, so there's been some progress, but it can be a long drawn-out process to get someone to come outside," he said.
Photos submitted to AnnArbor.com and uploaded to Flickr by Dennis Skubinski show a sizable police and SWAT team presence, some with guns drawn.
Skubinski, who lives in Chapel Hill not far from the subject's home, said he first began wandering around shooting photos of the incident around 8:30 a.m. Police have since told neighbors to avoid wandering around in certain areas.
"Everybody just can't believe what's going on," Skubinski said. "Another guy was out shooting pictures, but most people are just staying indoors."
Laurie, a woman who lives across the cul de sac from the subject's home and did not want her last name used, said the neighborhood association have told residents the subject may be visiting the home, not a resident.
She said police are letting residents leave only through the far end of Burbank Drive and forcing them to walk part of the way back if they return. The southern end of Burbank, at Green Road, has been closed off to traffic.
AnnArbor.com will update this story as more information becomes available.
Comments
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
@LEFTY48197 when the fire department comes to your house you are billed for their services, the same for paramedics , ambulance and wrecker services.
Sven Gustafson
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.
Story updated: http://annarbor.com/news/police-and-swat-teams-on-scene-of-apparent-barricade-situation-in-ann-arbor/
charlotte m.
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1 a.m.
Thanks to all the law enforcement for their patience and helpfulness through this difficult day!
a2citizen
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:55 a.m.
Mike, What is your recommended solution?
Sorceress
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
We have finally be let outside and I can see which unit it is. It wasn't the one I was thinking it was. It IS the one on the corner. The armored vehicle drove through their fence, it's completely mangled. The front door is completely battered down. I'm so glad this ended with no one getting hurt. Thank you to all the law enforcement involved!!
JMA2
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
Yes, thank you to all of the people who responded today. I hope he is able to get the help he needs. I wonder what the next step is for him? Hospitalization? Will he be charged with any crime?
charlotte m.
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
Wow. Indeed, thanks to all the law enforcement!
Jimbo
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:38 a.m.
How could this happen? Are you certain this is Ann Arbor and not Ypsilanti? Everybody knows that this sort of thing doesn't happen in the prissy town of Ann Arbor. It must have been Ypsilanti or Ypsilanti west.
jcj
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1:23 a.m.
Wasn't one of the backwoodsmen in deliverance named Jimbo.Oh wait that's what they call half the guys on that moonshiners show!
Sorceress
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
They are in getting him out now. Thank goodness this is over and no one was hurt.
Ellen
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:38 a.m.
Thank goodness!
Sorceress
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:27 a.m.
You are very welcome!! Peace and Love to all!!
charlotte m.
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
Thanks for the regular updates, Sorceress. We really appreciate them.
Zultan Smith
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.
And yet another mentally unstable person with a access to firearms. Let me guess, it's the guns fault. I'd like to thank this fella for giving all the anti gun folks more to ramble on about...
Sven Gustafson
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
I just spoke with an old high-school who lives a few doors down from this. She also heard the loud bang. I'm trying to get confirmation of this from the police right now.
Mike
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
So let me get this straight, there is a suicidal man who is a threat to a military style SWAT unit that has surrounded his house? Can we please defund these military units for deployment against the civilian population?
genetracy
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.
Mikey, I remember a bumper sticker from the 70's. It read, "If you think police are so bad, then the next time you need help, call a hippie."
YpsiVeteran
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.
Perhaps you should direct your venom to whomever it was that had the audacity to call the police today and ask for their help. These officers are there on behalf of the "civilian" population, and are, in fact, members of the civilian population. I'm sure they all have places they'd much rather be today. I hope they all are getting paid time and a half, and your property taxes get raised to pay for it.
amlive
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:07 a.m.
It's quite intriguing (and perhaps a bit telling) that you seem to view this emergency response team as 'military units for deployment AGAINST the civilian population'. Seems to me as though they are working for us right now, doing exactly what we're paying them to do. I'll bet most of the neighbors and friends and family in the midst of this crisis feel the same way, save for perhaps the one reportedly suicidal / unstable man with a gun.
WolverineGal
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : midnight
If you had a spouse that was a first responder, you would appreciate the 'military style' response! You never know what type of weapons people have and what they will do with them.
Sorceress
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
HUGE bang just shook the house. I think they broke in the door....
Wolverine'11
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
A flash bang is a stun grenade that makes and bright flash and a loud bang designed to incapacitate a person. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stun_grenade
charlotte m.
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:20 a.m.
What's a flash bang?
YpsiVeteran
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:17 a.m.
Probably flash bangs. Good. This person has had long enough to come out and accept help.
Sorceress
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:09 a.m.
Two more bangs, not as loud as the first.
charlotte m.
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:48 p.m.
I could hear the bang from a block over. Very loud. Anyone know what's happening now?
KathyMac
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
They have large lights on the unit now and have seen the SWAT members heading back to the condo. Neighbor said they think tear gas will be next since he isn't responding to phone calls.
Wolverine'11
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
So what happens when it is over? This guy gets all this attention for saying he wants to kill himself and takes up the time of half the officers in washtenaw county for 6 hours. When he finally gives up and comes out does he get a bill for the cost of having swat/police/ems hanging out on his lawn all day, or are the tax payers just stuck with another 100k bill because someone had a sad Sunday?
lefty48197
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1:14 a.m.
if you're suggesting we bill the guy for the police services, then maybe we should bill people in car accidents for the police work? Or bill people whose homes have burned down for the firefighters' time?
Zultan Smith
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
Here we go.... This is obviously yet ANOTHER metal health issue, not a gun issue. And as you so put it, there are plenty of facilities close by where this individual could have received treatment. But lets go right on and make the same mistake as last week, blame it on the gun not the person. This person needed some mental help and should not have had access to firearms.
Wolverine'11
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:30 a.m.
If he wants to kill himself fine he can go ahead and do it, if he needs help there is actually plenty of mental health providers in Ann Arbor and an entire department at U of M with walk in hours for locals at CAPS. If he is in crisis there are suicide prevention hotlines and people willing to listen. Why did we need to pay for an APC to be brought in? And if we care so much for this guy then why are we not demanding the banning and confiscation of all assault rifles in the country so that spree killers would at least be limited to hand guns and standard hunting rifles? I know we wont stop gun violence but if we give such a damn about one person to roll out all of washtenaw county's swat then why not be willing to make it a little more difficult to off mass numbers of people?
amlive
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:11 a.m.
Yeah, that's the Christmas spirit....
MyOpinion
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:45 p.m.
This is what we do as part of a community. Have some compassion. This can't be fun for his mom or for him.
WolverineGal
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11 p.m.
Thanks for the updates everyone, my husband is one of the swat officers outside. Since we haven't heard much from him, this really helps. Keep em comin!
marla
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
Tell him thanks from a Chapel Hill resident!
Zultan Smith
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
Cleanup is correct, we all should be thankfull for their services.
cleanup
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
WolverineGal -- I can only imagine the courage and nerves of steel it takes for your husband to go to work every day, and the courage and nerves of steel you must have to send him on his way. I live in Chapel Hill and encountered one of the officers this a.m. on my way to work and one on the way home. In both instances, they were calm and professional and helpful. All the residents I have been in contact with today are grateful for the protection. The people whose comments are angry/paranoid/crude are making assumptions about a situation they know nothing about. Stay strong. I thank your husband and all the officers for their service.
Sorceress
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
You are absolutely right JMA2. Sadly it is not over. We just had the police ask for permission to run extension cords for lighting.
Sorceress
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
I'm not exactly sure which unit it is. Since our buildings run in "L" shapes in am in the front along Burbank. It looks its not the one on the corner but the one next to it.
JMA2
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
This is so sad. Are you familiar with the residents of that unit, Sorceress?
JMA2
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
I live in Chapel Hill too. I'm not so sure that it's over. I think the shuffling that people have been seeing is a shift change. We have seen more law enforcement vehicles enter and they have not opened the barricades. It looks to me like circumstances remain the same. I hope that this man surrenders peacefully!
JMA2
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
Perhaps you're right JPLewis. Maybe surrender wasn't the right word. However, my sentiment remains the same. I hope that both the man and the officers come out of this situation unharmed.
Laurie
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:25 p.m.
It is not over. The man is living with his mother, his mother owns the home, she got out earlier this morning.
JPLewis
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
If he is in his own home, why would he need to surrender at all !?
Sorceress
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
It appears to be over. Thank god!! Heard no shots fired so I assume it ended peacefully.
Ellen
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 9:37 p.m.
Good news! Please folks, if you're feeling out of control or like you can't go on, please reach out to a hotline, psych ER, pastor, counselor, etc. Talk it out. It's not hopeless, and there are people who care, who want to help. Take care.
Sorceress
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
The two SWAT team members that were posted in the back of the building have left. There are still several out front. I no longer hear them negotiating with him. I hope this means that its over.
Sorceress
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8 p.m.
They are negotiating with him now. This is all happening in my back yard and on my front porch. I pray that this is resolved peacefully.
Linda Peck
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
This must be so upsetting. Stay safe and may this situation calm quickly. Blessings!
Tesla
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.
Earth to Sven!
Laurie
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
Sven there is nothing going on as of right now. It appears that everyone is in place in case he tries to leave by any means other than in handcuffs. Police and SWAT are still here and I'd assume negotiators are still trying to talk him down.
Linda Peck
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
This is so distressing. You know people's lives are in danger in there and it is bad. Guns are at least on one side. Heartbreaking news.
Tesla
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:36 p.m.
and some sort of armored personnel carrier. I have to believe the person has made more threats than just having a gun.
Steven Taylor
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
Both purchased with taxpayer dollars, and donated by the Department of Homeland Security. Buffalo personnel carrier if I remember correctly. I saw a Washtenaw County Swat Convoy a few weeks ago after a training exercise in York township.
a2citizen
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
This is from the Kroger's parking lot about a mile away: http://www.aeronauticpictures.com/stock-photo/displayimage.php?album=84&pos=6
Tesla
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.
I didn't know we had a Tank? Does that seem like overkill to anyone else?
Mike
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 11:46 p.m.
The police do not need a tank. We need to decrease the police budget. We do not want a fascist state.
YpsiVeteran
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
Why don't you ask any member of the West Bloomfield PD if armored protection is "overkill," or maybe ask any of the spouses or other family members of the people who are at this scene. Should they have to hide behind trees and each other if this person actually has a rifle or other weapon and starts shooting?
zigziggityzoo
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 8:48 p.m.
We don't have a tank. We have an on-road, and off-road armored personnel carrier. Both have been used in the past.
Tesla
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
Love the flickr feeds over dramatic label on the photos. Shootout Chapel Hill? lol No shots have been fired.
Sven Gustafson
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
Thanks for the Flickr link, @xmo. I added it to the story. If anyone knows who that user is — or anyone else who lives nearby who can tell me what they're seeing — please ask them to email the author: sventg123(at) gmail(dot) com.
xmo
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.
More photos at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/65978346@N04/8301227414/in/photostream/ about 200 pictures plus video
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:58 p.m.
thanks for the link xmo.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 5:56 p.m.
Is he in his own house? Is he suspected of committing a crime?.... other than not wanting to unlock his door for a swat team?
lefty48197
Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.
I believe suicide is illegal and that he has threatened to do so.
observer
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 9:10 p.m.
no, I believe old Craig is a bit on the naive side.......
tdw
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.
Craig.....it's Ok I got your back
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
I will add that some welfare checks come from people angry at somebody else and trying to harass them.
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:39 p.m.
I do occasionally agitate but to suggest that is my sole purpose is hardly factual. One thing I don't do is call people names using a pseudonym.
a2xarob
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
Please, Sir, if by some odd chance you are reading this on annarbor.com, it IS true that things get better, you will move on from what is upsettting you so today, and life will be good again. Don't do something that will make matters worse or can't be undone. Prayers and wishes for all good things are being said for you right now.
Anna
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 6:45 p.m.
The most sympathetic and intelligent thing I've read all day. Good on you, @a2xarob.
jns131
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.
Mental illness? Maybe. But I would not doubt it.