Tense Hampton Twp. Standoff Ends Peacefully
HAMPTON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - A standoff in Hampton Township ended peacefully Thursday morning, but there were some tense moments when a man inside the home allegedly threatened to shoot police.
According to KDKA-TV's Heather Abraham, guns were possibly being fired inside and outside of the Hampton Township home, leading to 57-year-old Alan Claffey's wife filing a protection from abuse order against her husband.
However, serving that protection from abuse order did not go as planned.
Instead of answering his door, police said Claffey threatened police.
"When the officers responded, he would not come to the door and made the comment that he would shoot police," Hampton Township Police Captain Michael Pecora said.
"I came to the door to see what was going on and there was an officer in our front yard already and he told us to go inside and stay away from the windows," Matthew Miller, a neighbor, said.
That threat may have been taken more seriously, given that sources claim the protection from abuse order that police were trying to serve Claffey Wednesday night was filed by his wife because Claffey was allegedly shooting guns in and out of the home.
"We had heard earlier that the wife was nervous and had locked up all his guns to keep them away from him," Miller said.
"When someone says they want to shoot the police, kill the police, aren't going to let the police in, we have to take all precautions," Captain Pecora said.
According to police, Claffey was heavily intoxicated when he was physically removed from the house and several weapons were found and removed from the home.
Neighbors described a lot of bizarre behavior from Claffey in recent weeks, including causing severe damage to a neighbor's home.
"He drove through his garage door, then put it in reverse and drove across the street and backed right through their house," Miller said.
Claffey is facing a list of charges including, making terroristic threats and resisting arrest.
RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Hampton Township News
More Reports From Heather Abraham
