Man armed with sword remains barricaded in Ypsilanti home 24 hours after confronting police with weapon
Ypsilanti barricaded situation nears 24 hours
A man has been barricaded inside an Ypsilanti home after allegedly trying to break into a neighbor's home with what police described as a stick. The man then allegedly charged at police with the stick and a knife before locking himself in the home.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (FOX 2) - A man accused of confronting Ypsilanti police with a sword Sunday afternoon remains barricaded inside a home more than 24 hours later.
UPDATE: Barricaded swordsman arrested by police after 30-hour standoff
Ypsilanti police and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office said the suspect, a 53-year-old man, tried to get into a neighbor's home on W. Cross near N. Wallace with a sword on Sunday. Originally, it was reported to police that the man was armed with a stick, but officers learned it was a sword.
When police arrived on the scene, the man allegedly charged officers while armed with the sword before barricading himself in his home just after 12:20 p.m. Sunday. As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, the man remained barricaded inside the home. The rest of the house has been cleared.
The sheriff's office said that "the situation is taking a significant amount of time because a rushed response increases the risk of injury to everyone involved."
Neighbors said the law enforcement presence has included SWAT teams and drones, and some neighbors reported seeing possible flash bangs thrown into the home, but police have not confirmed if these were used.
"It's a travesty. I'm really looking forward to being able to spend time with my neighbors and process this," Peter 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."
No injuries have been reported. It is unclear if the suspect is armed with any other weapons.
Stay with FOX 2 for updates.
The Source: FOX 2 spoke with neighbors and the Ypsilanti police chief. A press release from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office was also used.