DOVER, DELAWARE (4/19/2015) After negotiating with a barricaded 39-year-old man for more than four hours early today, Dover police entered the home and safely removed him, authorities said this afternoon.
Nearby residents were evacuated while the standoff was underway in the first block of Primrose Drive and firefighters extinguished a kitchen fire.
The incident began about 2:45 a.m., Cpl. Mark Hoffman said.
He said the incident was first reported as a burglary in progress.
“While investigating the call, officers found that the noise that startled the caller was coming from a nearby residence. As officers approached the residence, they heard a loud noise that was thought to be a gun shot,” Hoffman said.
Officers then observed smoke coming from the home and called in firefighters, who extinguished a small kitchen blaze.
“While checking the remainder of the residence, Cliffton Stevens charged the firefighters and chased them out … throwing objects at them. Officers and firefighters observed that Stevens had multiple self-inflicted injuries to his body,” Hoffman said.
“Officers attempted to take Stevens into custody due to his manic behavior, however he was able to retreat into the residence and barricade both doorways,” Hoffman said.
He said special units were called in and made numerous efforts to contact Stevens to negotiate a safe exit, including the use of various forms of telephone communications, a \ong range acoustic device and other tools.
“During this time, it was learned that Stevens suffered from a mental condition that was responsible for his behavior. Despite the efforts, Stevens refused to answer and communicate with police. Officers from the Dover Police Special Operations Response Team, with assistance from officers of the Delaware State Police, made a strategic entry into the residence,” Hoffman said.
He said Stevens violently struggled with officers but they made a safe rescue and he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Residents were kept in the community pool house parking lot for their safety, Hoffman said, during the evacuation.
He said the standoff was not related to any incidents at Delaware State University.