Braintree Deputy Police Chief Tim Cohoon says a suspect is in custody after an hours-long standoff on Holbrook Ave.
Braintree Deputy Police Chief Tim Cohoon and Police Chief Mark Dubois spoke during a press conference Friday afternoon:
The incident started around 9:25 Friday morning, a man brandished a firearm in a group home. When police arrived, the man went into his room and threatened responding officers.
A perimeter was established, and MetroLEC SWAT responded to the scene. The nearby apartments and businesses were evacuated. In addition to crisis negotiators and armored units, Fire Department ladder trucks were used at the scene.
“We knew there may be some aspect of mental health here, and we wanted to give this person every chance to come out peacefully,” said Cohoon.
After police tried to communicate with the suspect for hours, Cohoon said the suspect emerged from the apartment holding a firearm.
“The SWAT operators that were on the third flood happened to be in a really good position of cover that they had set up out there. They engaged him with less-lethal munitions,” said Cohoon. “He went back inside of the room. This happened again, at one point, he made his way down to the end of the hallway and ended up in a stairwell where he was engaged again with less-lethal munitions. After a significant struggle, he was taken into custody by the SWAT operators on scene.”
The man was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. It’s expected the man will be arraigned on charges on Monday.
“It’s a tremendous amount of restraint by all of the SWAT operators,” said Braintree Police Chief Mark Dubois. “They know he’s armed with a handgun, he’s already come out brandishing that to residents and them. The fact they went hands-on and engaged with him just speaks volumes to the professionalism of this team and these officers, and how important it is to engage these people and do everything we can possible before we have to use any type of deadly force.”
A Braintree Fire ladder truck was used, along with armored SWAT units and K9’s. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
An armored Rook unit leaves the scene at Holbrook Ave. in Braintree. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
SWAT operators on a Braintree Fire ladder truck on Washington Street in Braintree. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
