A 53-year-old man armed with a sword remains barricaded inside his Ypsilanti, Michigan home after a standoff with police stretched past 24 hours.
The incident began around 12:20 p.m. Sunday when officers responded to a neighbor dispute on West Cross Street, CBS Detroit reported. The man approached police aggressively while holding the sword before retreating into the residence. Authorities believe he is hiding in the attic.
SWAT teams deployed flashbang grenades and tear gas canisters throughout the standoff, according to CBS Detroit. At one point, the suspect threw a tear gas canister back at officers. Crisis negotiators and social workers have attempted to end the situation peacefully.
Ypsilanti Police Chief Tim Anderson told the outlet that his department has exhausted nearly all negotiation tactics. (RELATED: Bodycam Footage Shows Florida Police Officer Making Incredible Headshot To Save Child Hostage From Knife-Wielding Thug)
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Eugene Rush said specially trained mental health professionals have been on scene since Sunday attempting to talk the man down.
“The situation is taking a significant amount of time because a rushed response increases the risk of injury to everyone involved, including the individual and responding officers,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Some nearby residents have been evacuated while others received shelter-in-place orders, CBS Detroit reported. The street remains closed to traffic. No injuries have been reported.
Neighbor Peter Wilkins described the overnight scene to FOX 2 Detroit.
“It’s a travesty. I’m really looking forward to being able to spend time with my neighbors and process this,” Wilkins said. “I was watching at midnight and one o’clock in the morning and three o’clock in the morning, flash bang grenades going off.”