Man In Custody After SWAT Situation In Ross Twp. Prompts Evacuations
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A man was taken into custody Wednesday night after a nearly five-hour standoff at a home in Ross Township.
It all started around 3 p.m. at a house on Klemont Avenue.
Police eventually deployed teargas into the home where 53-year-old David Gloekler had barricaded himself in the basement.
Ross Township Det. Brian Kohlhepp says Gloekler's wife called police to say her husband was in the basement just after 3 o'clock and she heard a gunshot.
"Our officers responded, were able to speak with him, knew that he was okay at that time, but he refused to come out of the basement, barricaded himself, we did have some information that he had weapons available to him there," said Det. Kohlhepp.
When police got to the home, he refused to come out and made several indirect threats.
About 10 homes in the immediate neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution as the standoff dragged on. Gloekler's wife got out of the house safely.
"Negotiations continued for the last several hours on and off. Eventually, we had to deploy gas into the basement," Det. Kohlhepp. "It was after the deployment of gas that we were able to take him into custody peacefully. He doesn't appear to be injured."
Gloekler is facing charges of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, assault and disorderly conduct.
No one was hurt.
Det. Kohlhepp said, "Now the man can get the help he needs."
It's not clear what set the man off, causing the neighborhood disruption.
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