Barricaded gunman under arrest by Warren police after surrender

Warren police peacefully end barricaded standoff with gunman in mental crisis

A tense barricaded situation was diffused Wednesday afternoon by crisis negotiators and Warren police.

WARREN, Mich. (FOX 2) - Warren police have ended a barricaded standoff with an armed resident suffering a mental health crisis on Joanne Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

The 41-year-old man was arrested by police at the back of the home without incident, after a two-hour negotiation that began with a welfare check after a call from a family member who said he had been holding a gun to his head.

The man is in his 40s and was alone in his house, on the 24000 block of Joanne near Stephens Road. He has been struggling with mental illness and had access to firearms, family told police.

We're told four to five shots went off in the home without anyone else inside at the time.

"Certainly, the man has numerous problems," Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer said. "His personal life and some other problems. He had been drinking - we know that, but we were able to really talk to him for at least an hour. Just an outstanding job by the negotiators and that’s what it’s all about."

Sources say the suspect works as a paramedic for a local emergency service.

"Crisis Negotiators communicated with the subject for approximately one hour," police said in a statement. "After speaking with the subject and establishing a rapport, Crisis Negotiators were able to have the subject exit the residence voluntarily wherein he was taken into custody without force or injury."

Police waited for family members to arrive at a safe distance away. A nearby school went on lockdown as the situation unfolded, frightening neighbors.

The suspect's mental condition is being evaluated at an area hospital while a search warrant was done by officers looking for additional evidence. Several firearms have been seized by police from the home.

It’s the latest in a string or barricaded gunmen situations linked to mental illness. A review of FOX 2 News archives found at least 9 similar incidents taking place since Christmas.

"The problem you have today is there are no treatment centers really available for these people that have mental illness today," Dwyer said. "Years ago there were places there you could be treated, today it’s very difficult even if you have the money - to get into a treatment center."

He says while there are a lot of good gun laws out there, but some have not been enforced.

"I think there has to be more funding for mental illness," he said. "I think that should be a priority because every one of these school shootings we’ve had, mass shootings we’ve had…barricaded gunmen we’ve had, it’s really the mental illness."